Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has concluded his official visit to Japan, highlighting new opportunities for collaboration between Japan and India’s Northeastern region. The visit, which ended on Friday, focused on strengthening cooperation in infrastructure, education, tourism, and cultural exchange.
During his final engagements, Khandu met Dr Atsushi Sunami, president of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), and senior foundation members at the SPF headquarters in Tokyo. Both sides discussed the outcomes of the visit and explored a roadmap for continued engagement between Japan and the Northeast.
Khandu expressed gratitude to the foundation for coordinating a series of meetings with Japanese policymakers, academics, journalists, and business leaders. “These interactions have been immensely productive and have strengthened our shared vision for cooperation between Japan and India’s North East,” he said.
He noted that the visit supports the shared vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan’s leadership to promote sustainable growth and closer ties through the Act East Policy. Khandu also thanked the SPF for showcasing the textiles and handicrafts of Northeast India at its Tokyo headquarters, saying that such gestures foster greater cultural understanding between the two regions.
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“The North Eastern states are known for their diverse textiles, intricate handicrafts, and unique artistry. Such initiatives strengthen people-to-people connections between India and Japan,” Khandu said.
The Chief Minister also held discussions with Japanese delegates from academia and media, including Ryohei Kasai, Takenori Horimoto, Mayumi Murayama, Yujiro Futori, Toru Takahashi, and Akiko Suzuki. The meetings focused on promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s tourism potential, cultural diversity, and development priorities.
In another meeting, Khandu met Hiroshi Tanimura, Executive Director of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), to discuss ways to boost tourism cooperation and encourage two-way travel between Japan and the Northeast.
Facilitated by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, the visit marks an important step towards expanding economic and cultural partnerships between Japan and India’s Northeast. Khandu was accompanied by Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao and MLA Oken Tayeng as part of the high-level delegation.
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