The India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians (IJFP) was launched by the Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh, on April 29, 2005, on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Junichiro Koizumi, to India. The inaugural ceremony witnessed the presence of Masaaki Yamazaki, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Government of Japan, Onkar S. Kanwar, President, FICCI and Ashwani Kumar, Chairman, IJFP and H.E. Yasukuni Enoki, the Ambassador of Japan to India.

The launch was also well attended by several Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, and leaders from the business fraternity. The parliamentarians present on the occasion were A.R Shaheen, Tarlochan Singh, Lalit Suri, Preneet Kaur, Raashid Alvi, Nirmala Deshpande, Sachin Pilot and Robert Kharshiing. The ceremony was also attended by several Ambassadors, including those of Netherlands, Nepal, Qatar, New Zealand, Australia, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia and others.

Other distinguished guests who attended the inaugural ceremony included Shashank, Former Foreign secretary, Amb. Shankar Bajpai, Former Indian Ambassador to the U.S, Gitanjali Kirloskar of the Kirloskar Group and Chairperson, India-Japan Initiative, and analysts such as, KRG Nair and Brahma Chellany of the Centre for Policy Research. There was also extensive participation by representatives of Japanese companies as well as diplomats from various embassies. Senior FICCI officials who were present on the occasion included Dr. Amit Mitra (Secretary General, FICCI), Krishan Kalra (Addl. Secretary General, FICCI), Rajan Kohli (Deputy Secretary General, FICCI) and Ramesh Chandran (Executive Director, Forum of Parliamentarians).

Natwar Singh, in his inaugural address, identified a seven point strategy for India and Japan to expand their boundaries of cooperation and concretize their bilateral partnership in a number of areas. Specifically, he enlisted political interaction; economic collaboration; FDI investment by Japan in India; innovative utilization of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan for India's economic development; cooperation in energy, S&T, environment, IT, culture, education and other such areas; security and defence exchanges and; cooperation on regional and global issues.

Expressing the significance of India-Japan relations, Mr Singh said "Close cooperation between India, the second largest country in Asia, both demographically and geographically, as also a rapidly developing economy, and Japan, a major player in Asia and the world and the second largest economy, is a major pre-requisite for the 21st century to become the century of Asia."

Ashwani Kumar, Chairman of the IJFP, while making his address, pointed out "While it is in the economic arena that enhanced India-Japan engagement is likely to be more visible in the coming years, it is the strategic cooperation between the two countries that could most radically transform the bilateral relationship."

The launch of the India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians coincided with the fifth anniversary of the India-Japan Global Partnership and is believed to have come at an oppportune time, as relations between the two countries are poised for a new strategic orientation.

The Hon'ble Prime Minster of India, Shri Manmohan Singh, in his message, expressed happiness on the formation of the forum and lauded FICCI and the Parliamentarians involved in the initiative. His message read "India-Japan relations rest on a firm footing of strong historical and cultural ties. These have been further enriched through our common commitment to democracy and global partnership." The Prime Ministers' expectations from the Forum, was reflected in his message which further stated, "It is indeed heartening to learn that Parliamentarians of the two countries would come together on a common platform, to contribute to enhancing and deepening the comprehensive engagement between our two friendly countries. I am confident that the Forum will go a long way in bringing India and Japan together by promoting mutual understanding and cooperation."

Masaaki Yamazaki conveyed the felicitations of PM Junichiro Koizumi, on the launch of the Forum. His message communicated, "I very much hope that the launch of the India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians will give greater breadth and depth to the Parliamentarian exchanges between Japan and India and also I pray from the bottom of my heart that the activities of this Forum shall make significant contributions to the friendship and mutual understanding between our two countries."

Mr. Kanwar, in his welcome address said, "Japan and India are the two great democracies of Asia that have major responsibility in maintaining a balanced Asia without any hegemony on the part of any country. The Parliamentarians, who are the banner bearers of pluralism, in this continent, will make sure that this balanced political relationship in Asia flowers."

Dr. Mitra, while making the vote of thanks echoed the belief of the External Affairs Minister, and stated with confidence "India and Japan will define the Asian economic and political landscape in the future."