India, Japan look forward to expand collaborative projects in Indo-Pacific
21 Mar 2022 11:54:24
New Delhi, March 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, reaffirmed the importance of collaborative projects between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region and looked forward to the expansion of such projects to ASEAN, Pacific island countries and others.
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida also used the opportunity to welcome India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) launched by PM Modi in 2019. The main objective of the IPOI is to ensure the safety, security, and stability of the maritime domain.
“The Prime Ministers acknowledged the growing space for cooperation between the IPOI and Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). India appreciated Japan’s participation as a lead partner on the connectivity pillar of IPOI,” the statement said, adding “They reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)’ which upholds the principles such as the rule of law, openness, freedom, transparency and inclusiveness”.
“With their commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, the Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of bilateral and plurilateral partnerships among like-minded countries of the region, including the quadrilateral cooperation among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States (the Quad),” the statement said.
Issuing a joint press statement, the leaders also acknowledged the progress in the ongoing projects in Bangladesh.
“The Prime Ministers acknowledged the growing space for cooperation between the IPOI and Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). India appreciated Japan’s participation as a lead partner on the connectivity pillar of IPOI,” the statement said, adding “They reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)’ which upholds the principles such as the rule of law, openness, freedom, transparency and inclusiveness”.
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The statement said, “They reaffirmed their determination to continue prioritizing the role of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and facilitate collaboration, including in maritime security, to meet challenges against the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas."
“With their commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, the Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of bilateral and plurilateral partnerships among like-minded countries of the region, including the quadrilateral cooperation among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States (the Quad),” the statement said.