New Delhi, July 2 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to India for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, characterising her historic visit as the start of a "new chapter" in the global strategic partnership between two of the world's five largest economies.

Speaking during the joint press briefing with his Japanese counterpart, PM Modi referred to the Japanese leader as his "younger sister" while celebrating her milestone status as Japan's first female prime minister.

"I welcome Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, my younger sister to India for her first visit for the India Japan Annual Summit. She is the first woman PM of Japan, and also a visionary and popular leader. She is from Nar...