NewsGate Press Network

The time tested and long standing friendship between India and Japan took the next step forward as Japanese Foreign and Defence ministers are in New Delhi to hold strategic talks with the top leadership in the Indian government.

On 20th of August 2024, the Japanese Foreign minister Kamikawa and defence minister Minoru Kihara met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 3rd round of the India-Japan talks under the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Minister  meeting format.

This high-level meeting underscored the deepening ties between the two nations amidst a complex global and regional environment, according to a press release by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The Prime Minister is reported to have discussed potential areas for closer cooperation, including critical minerals, semiconductors, and defence manufacturing.

Later in the day the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar met their counterparts.

The leaders reviewed progress on various bilateral projects, notably the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

According to a statement issued by the MEA, the Ministers highlighted their common strategic vision towards a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive, peaceful, prosperous and resilient, as part of the rules-based international order.

The Ministers also reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” which upholds the principles such as openness, transparency, inclusivity, a rules-based framework and respect for international law.

The MEA statement added that both the Ministers had a frank and wide-ranging discussion on regional and global issues focusing on the shared Indo-Pacific region.

The Ministers valued their cooperation in Quad and reaffirmed their commitment to advance it further based on the discussion at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo on 29 July 2024.

The Ministers welcomed the possibilities to further enhance the bilateral security and defence cooperation following the National Security Strategy of Japan issued in December 2022 and recognized such cooperation as an important pillar of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

They also concurred to continue to work together on Security Council reform with a view to strengthening the UN.

The Ministers supported efforts to foster people-to-people exchanges that complement our strategic partnership.

In this regard, they appreciated the significance of India’s decision to establish a new Consulate in Fukuoka. They also welcomed the impending celebration of India Month in Japan and Japan Month in India in September.

The Ministers unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and called for bringing the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and other attacks to justice.

They called for concerted actions against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and their proxy groups, and to take resolute actions to root out terrorists’ safe havens, eliminate terrorist financing channels, and halt cross-border movement of terrorists.

They welcomed the first air visit by Japanese fighters and their participation at Tarang Shakti, the first multilateral exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force.

The Ministers expressed their commitment to continuing bilateral and multilateral exercises including “Dharma Guardian”, JIMEX and “Malabar.”

The Ministers concurred to contribute to a productive visit by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to Japan for the next Annual Summit. They decided to hold the next 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Japan.