India and Japan Strengthen Partnership for a Free and Prosperous Indo-Pacific
India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi came together in New Delhi on Thursday to highlight the importance of the India-Japan partnership in ensuring a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The focus was on inclusivity and adherence to rules-based principles.
During the 15th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, the ministers reviewed the progress made in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The discussion covered various bilateral, regional, and global issues, with an emphasis on further strengthening the partnership based on shared values and principles.
One of the main objectives highlighted during the meeting was achieving the target of JPY 5 trillion Japanese investment in India between 2022 and 2027. The ministers also explored potential areas of collaboration in critical and emerging technologies such as semiconductors, resilient supply chains, and digital public infrastructure.
In addition to bilateral issues, Jaishankar and Hayashi exchanged views on regional and global matters. They discussed cooperation under multilateral and plurilateral frameworks, including the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). Both ministers agreed on the need for early reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and shared their perspectives on their respective G20 and G7 presidencies.
Recognizing the importance of people-to-people exchanges, the ministers acknowledged the celebration of 2023 as the Year of India-Japan Tourism Exchanges. They discussed ways to promote skilled human resources movement from India to Japan, further enhancing their ties.
The India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to strengthen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The meeting served to deepen bilateral cooperation and pave the way for enhanced collaboration on regional and global issues.
Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit to India is part of his trip to Southwest Asia and Africa to strengthen relations with countries of the Global South. During his visit, he plans to hold meetings with foreign ministers and senior officials from India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, South Africa, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
In summary, the strategic dialogue between India and Japan solidified their partnership in ensuring a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The ministers discussed various areas of collaboration, including economic investments, technology, defense and security, and regional and global issues. The meeting highlighted the shared values and principles that form the foundation of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
