- Amid increasing concern over China’s aggressive behaviour in the region, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasised that India is “indispensable” in Tokyo’s plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
- Modi said the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is based on shared democratic values, and respect for the rule of law in the international arena.
- The two sides reviewed progress in areas of defence, digital technology, trade and investment and health, among others.
- Both the leaders did not mention the Russian invasion of Ukraine in their public statements.
- Kishida said the two countries are “in an extremely unique position in the current international relations” and have a great responsibility towards maintaining and strengthening “a free and open international order based on the rule of law”.
Amid increasing concern over China’s aggressive behaviour in the region, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasised that India is “indispensable” in Tokyo’s plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, underlined the importance of the India-Japan partnership for a stable Indo-Pacific.
Following his meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Modi said the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is based on shared democratic values, and respect for the rule of law in the international arena. “Strengthening this partnership is not only important for both our countries, it also promotes peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
“As the world is standing at history’s turning point fraught with difficulties, what role should Japan and India play,” said the visiting Japan PM. PM Modi says the two sides reviewed progress in areas of defence, digital technology, trade and investment and health, among others. Both the leaders did not mention the Russian invasion of Ukraine in their public statements.
In a speech to unveil Japan’s new plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, Kishida said the two countries are “in an extremely unique position in the current international relations” and have a great responsibility towards maintaining and strengthening “a free and open international order based on the rule of law”.
“I believe that Japan and India are in an extremely unique position in the current international relations and, furthermore, in the history of the world… I have always viewed with great respect the way such a huge and diverse country as India has developed democracy. Japan, for its part, was the first country in Asia to achieve modernisation and embrace democracy. It is fair to say that both countries are naturally receptive to, and fully committed to, the idea of electing governments through general elections and deciding policies through public debate,” Kishida said.
At the same time, he said, the two countries have unique historical backgrounds. “The people of the two countries humbly acknowledge that there are diverse values, cultures and histories on this planet, and that fully understanding them is not an easy task. We are the kind of people who understand intuitively that the best way forward is to respect the other party and cooperate through dialogue,” he said
