India and Iran are not new friends. Our dosti is as old as history: PM Modi

Published By : Admin | May 23, 2016 | 13:49 IST
We can never forget that Iran was among the first countries to come forward in support when earthquake struck Gujarat in 2001: PM Modi
India is proud to have stood with the people of Iran during your difficult times: PM
Bilateral agreement to develop Chahbahar port, availability of about US$ 500 million from India for this purpose an important milestone: PM
Trilateral Transport and Transit Agreement with participation of Iran, India and Afghanistan will be a historic occasion: PM Modi
India and Iran also share a crucial stake in peace, stability and prosperity of our region: PM

Your Excellency President Rouhani,

Friends,

Thank you,

Excellency for your warm and wise words.

I am also grateful to you for the gracious hospitality given to me and my delegation. On behalf of the 1.25 billion Indians, I extend warm greetings to the friendly people of Iran. Through ages, the beauty and richness of the Persian heritage has attracted the world to Iran. For me, visiting Iran, is indeed a great privilege.

Excellency,

India and Iran are not new friends. Our dosti is as old as history. Through centuries, our societies have stayed connected through art and architecture, ideas and traditions, and culture and commerce. As friends and neighbours, we have shared interest in each other’s growth and prosperity, and joys and sorrows. We can never forget that Iran was among the first countries to come forward in support when earthquake struck my state, Gujarat, in 2001. Similarly, India is proud to have stood with the people of Iran during your difficult times. I compliment the leadership of Iran for their far-sighted diplomacy.

Excellency,

We had last met in Ufa in 2015. Your leadership and the clarity of your vision have deeply impressed me. In our meeting today, we focused on the full range of our bilateral engagement. We exchanged views on the emerging regional situation and global issues of common concern. The agenda and scope of our partnership is truly substantial. The outcomes and agreements signed today open a new chapter in our strategic partnership. The welfare of our people is guiding our broad based economic ties. Expanded trade ties, deeper connectivity, including Railways partnerships in oil and gas sector fertilizers education and cultural sphere are driving our overall economic engagement. The bilateral agreement to develop the Chahbahar port and related infrastructure, and availability of about US$ 500 million from India for this purpose, is an important milestone. This major effort would boost economic growth in the region. We are committed to take steps for early implementation of the agreements signed today.

Friends,

Later today we are going to sign the trilateral Transport and Transit Agreement with participation of Iran, India and Afghanistan. It will be a historic occasion. It will open new routes for India, Iran and Afghanistan to connect among themselves. India and Iran also share a crucial stake in peace, stability and prosperity of the region. We also have shared concerns at the spread of forces of instability, radicalism and terror in our region. We have agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating threats of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking and cyber crime. We have also agreed to enhance interaction between our defence and security institutions on regional and maritime security.

Friends,

The past history of our ties has been rich. President Rouhani and I would leave no stone unturned to work for its glorious future. Our friendship will be a factor of stability in our region. Later today, I look forward to calling on His eminence the Hon’ble Supreme Leader to advance our ties further.

Excellency Rouhani,

I look forward to welcoming you in India to carry forward the agenda of our engagement Where we are now and where we could be is most beautifully said in a couplet from Ghalib. Let me end with it:

जनूनत गरबे नफ्से-खुद तमाम अस्त

ज़े-काशी पा-बे काशान नीम गाम अस्त

[Means: Once we make up our mind, the distance between Kaashi and Kaashan is only half a step]

I once again sincerely thank you, Excellency for inviting me to Iran.

I also thank you all.

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List of Outcomes: Prime Minister of Japan’s visit to India for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit
July 02, 2026
Sl. No.OutcomeDescription
1. India-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Promotes project-based collaboration for enhancing joint resilience in key sectors including semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology including AI, clean energy and pharmaceuticals. India-Japan Fact Sheet 2.0 captures growing India-Japan G2G and B2B engagement in this crucial area.
2. India-Japan Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence Elevates the India-Japan relationship to a strategic research and development partnership in the AI domain. Building on the India-Japan AI Initiative, the Joint Statement provides a roadmap for greater cooperation across the entire AI technology stack in pursuit of the shared vision of safe, secure, trusted, inclusive, and human-centric AI.
3 Joint Statement on Energy Resilience (between MoPNG and METI, Japan) Strengthens cooperation in strategic stockpiling and reserve mechanisms for crude oil and petroleum products. Promotes collaboration in joint investments across the maritime energy transport value chain.
4. Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations Outlines a series of commemorative events to celebrate 2027, the 75th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, as the India-Japan Year of Shared Horizons
5. Memorandum of Cooperation for India-Japan Cooperative Biogas for Growth (CBG) Initiative Promotes cooperation towards the goal of establishing 1,000 biogas and organic fertilizer plants all across India, leveraging the extensive network of dairy cooperatives.
6. Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Batteries Promotes cooperation in battery-related projects and expands business opportunities with an aim of building a trusted, resilient and sustainable battery supply chain.
7. Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Sector Strengthens pharma supply chains, including in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs), through promotion of bilateral investment and business linkages, technical collaboration and industry-academia collaboration.
8. Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Geology and Mineral Exploration Strengthens cooperation in upstream critical minerals exploration through exchange of technical expertise.
9. Memorandum of Cooperation between IndiaAI Mission and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan Promotes institutional cooperation between IndiaAI Mission and Japan’s GENIAC initiative – through B2B matchmaking, webinars on AI policies and challenges and support for joint projects through access to computing resources
10. Memorandum of Cooperation on Next Generation Mobility Partnership (NGMP) Establishes a framework for operationalizing the Next Generation Mobility Partnership (NGMP) which was announced at the 15th Annual Summit in August 2025. The NGMP would accelerate private sector-led cooperation and investment in mobility sectors including rail, automotive and road infrastructure, aviation, shipbuilding and ports, logistics, and urban development, positioning India as a hub for “Make in India for the World” exports to third countries.
11. Memorandum of Understanding between India’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and RIKEN, Japan Establishes a framework for academic, translational research and start-up oriented innovation in deep-tech and life sciences, covering healthcare, agriculture and environment.
12. Memorandum of Understanding between National Center for Biological Sciences-Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and RIKEN, Japan Creates a framework for cooperation in basic biological and neuroscience research between the two leading research institutions
13. Memorandum of Understanding between IIT Bombay, BharatGen Technology Foundation and National Institute of Informatics, Japan Furthers collaboration on large language models (LLMs), with a focus on developing LLMs for enhanced scientific reasoning, through joint research exchanges
14. Memorandum of Understanding between SarvamAI and Preferred Network on LLM Development Creates a framework for cooperation across the full AI technology stack, including foundation models.
15. Memorandum of Understanding Between National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC) Promotes cooperation in National Internet Registry operations, IPv6 adoption, internet security improvements, capacity building, student/professional exchanges and exchange of views on internet governance at regional and global forums.
16. Exchange of Letters Between International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and Financial Services Agency, Japan (JFSA) Establishes a framework for cooperation in development, regulation and supervision of financial services as well as information exchange on financial-market trends and best practices, particularly in FinTech and RegTech.