Describing India as an “important partner” at a time when the world is at a “historic juncture”, Japan on Monday said it looks forward to working more closely with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in the years to come.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Monday discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation during a 40-minute meeting following the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo.
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Kamikawa said during the meeting that Tokyo wants to “co-create” new solutions through dialogue and cooperation while deepening cooperation with New Delhi.
In response, Foreign Minister Jaishankar said the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and India looks forward to further deepening cooperation in various areas, including economy, security and people-to-people exchanges.
The two Ministers also expressed the view that they will strengthen bilateral cooperation, including the continued progress of the flagship project between Japan and India, the high-speed rail project.
They also welcomed the expansion of recruitment for Indian nationals under the JET Programme and the start of sending Japanese language partners to India, as well as exchanged views on cooperation on Security Council reform with a view to the future Summit in September this year.
Earlier, the Quad foreign ministers, including External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, jointly met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after their meeting on Monday afternoon.
During the 20-minute meeting, Kishida welcomed the progress made in various areas of cooperation following discussions among the foreign ministers of the Quad group. The meeting was also attended by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko.
Foreign Minister Jaishankar wrote on X after the meeting, “Honoured to meet PM Kishida with fellow Quad Foreign Ministers in Tokyo today. Conveyed warm greetings from PM Narendra Modi. Briefed him on the main points of our meeting today. Appreciate his guidance for the continued development of the Quad group and value his views on further deepening India-Japan relations.”
In his address, Kishida said Japan, India, the United States and Australia will continue to cooperate closely at various levels.
After the meeting, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said, “First, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the visit of the foreign ministers of the three countries to Japan. He said that amid growing uncertainty in the international situation, cooperation between Japan, the United States, Australia and India is becoming increasingly important to uphold principles and fundamental values.”
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Moriya Hiroshi, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Ishihara Hirotaka and several other top officials also attended the meeting.
“The three foreign ministers underlined the importance of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India as partners sharing fundamental values that strengthen a rules-based, free, and open international system, and reaffirmed that the four countries will promote various forms of cooperation and work together for peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
