New ‘Shubh Aarambh’ to bilateral ties; India, Japan dwell in for 2+2 dialogue in defence and foreign ministry

New Delhi, November 30: Fortifying relation by deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, India and Japan have mutually agreed on to hold a 2+2 dialogue between the two nations. In purview of this, a meeting was held in pursuance of the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018.

 

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar headed the Indian delegation for 2+2, while the Japanese delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defence Taro Kono. The two foreign ministers also called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit. During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi mentioned that both he and PM of Japan Shinzō Abe attach great importance to strengthening bilateral partnership between the two countries. He conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming Prime Minister Abe to India for India-Japan Annual Summit next month.

 

The 2+2 meeting provided an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the ‘India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and their respective efforts under India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and Japan’s ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision’ for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress to realize a better future for the people of the two countries and the region.