NEW DELHI, Oct 14: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has embarked on a four-day visit to Japan, from October 14 to 17, with the goal of strengthening defence cooperation between India and Japan.
As part of the visit, Gen Dwivedi will lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Park and offer floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue, symbolizing a commitment to peace.
The Defence Ministry emphasized that this visit represents a “significant step in enhancing defence cooperation” between the two countries. On the first day, Gen Dwivedi is scheduled to meet Sibi George, India’s Ambassador to Japan, and participate in discussions on India-Japan relations at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo.
On October 15, the Army Chief will meet with senior Japanese military leaders, including General Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of the Joint Self Defence Force, and General Morishita Yasunori, Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF), as well as Ishikawa Takeshi, Commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistic Agency (ATLA). The discussions will focus on strengthening military cooperation between the two nations.
During his visit to the Ministry of Defence in Ichigaya, Gen Dwivedi will pay homage at the memorial and receive a Guard of Honour from the JGSDF. His itinerary also includes interactions with the JGSDF’s senior leadership and a visit to the National Institute of Defence Studies.
On October 16, accompanied by JGSDF Chief of Staff, Gen Dwivedi will visit the Fuji School and meet with Lt. Gen Kodama Yasuyuki, Commanding General of the school. He will receive a briefing and observe an equipment and facility display.
The visit will conclude in Hiroshima on October 17, where Gen Dwivedi will lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Park and pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. This trip is aimed at deepening military cooperation and exploring new avenues of collaboration between India and Japan, according to the Defence Ministry.
