External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on global and regional issues, including the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
Strengthening Strategic Partnership
The two leaders reviewed the progress in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and discussed ways to further deepen ties in areas such as defence, trade, investment, and technology. Jaishankar emphasised the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the need for closer coordination between India and Japan to ensure regional stability.
Regional and Global Issues
During the meeting, the ministers exchanged views on recent developments in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. They underscored the importance of maintaining peace and security in the region and preventing any terrorist activities from Afghan soil. Both sides reiterated their commitment to working together in multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Quad.
Jaishankar and Motegi also discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. They agreed to enhance cooperation in areas such as connectivity, infrastructure development, and capacity building in third countries.
Bilateral Cooperation
The two ministers reviewed the implementation of ongoing projects and initiatives under the India-Japan partnership. They discussed the progress of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership, and the India-Japan Digital Partnership. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the growing defence and security cooperation, including the recent joint military exercises.
Jaishankar invited Japanese companies to invest in India under the 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives. Motegi assured continued Japanese support for India's infrastructure development and skill enhancement programmes.
The meeting also covered cooperation in the field of energy, including renewable energy and hydrogen fuel. Both sides agreed to explore new avenues for collaboration in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G.
Jaishankar thanked Motegi for Japan's support during India's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including the supply of medical equipment and vaccines. The two ministers also discussed ways to facilitate the safe travel of people between the two countries.
The talks were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the deep and multifaceted relationship between India and Japan. Both ministers expressed optimism about the future trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges.
