Arrangements are underway for Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to forge an agreement to aim for an exchange of more than 500,000 people between the two countries over the next five years.

Ishiba and Modi are scheduled to hold talks in Japan on Friday.

One of the major topics will likely be expanding people-to-people exchanges. Japan plans to accept 50,000 people from India. It expects that highly skilled personnel, particularly in science and engineering, will help promote Japan's economic growth and regional revitalization.

The two leaders are also expected to agree to cooperate on exploration of the area around the lunar South Pole, where water may exist.

They are also expected to confirm that the two countries will cooperate in the development of artificial intelligence, the use of hydrogen energy and research in advanced medical fields.

Ishiba and Modi are scheduled to visit Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Saturday to inspect a plant of a company that produces semiconductor manufacturing equipment. They are believed to be seeking concrete ways to work together to reinforce supply chains for semiconductors and other critical materials.