The conclusion of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to Japan marks a pivotal moment for India-Japan relationship. The Ministry of External Affairs underscored this trip as a critical opportunity to assess and invigorate the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between these two nations. Spanning three days, the visit encompassed comprehensive discussions, setting a transformative agenda across multiple sectors.
Commencing on March 6, subsequent to engagements in the Republic of Korea, Dr. Jaishankar’s itinerary in Tokyo focused on global challenges within the Indo-Pacific, the Global South, alongside advocacy for United Nations reforms. Dialogues with Japanese leadership spotlighted a shared vision for escalated collaboration in domains ranging from trade and emerging technologies to defense and security.
Dr. Jaishankar extended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, briefing him on the recent enhancements in the Indo-Japan partnership, now celebrating its decennial in 2024. These discussions solicited PM Kishida’s wisdom on advancing this dynamic relationship further.
The 16th iteration of the India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, helmed alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on March 7, stood as a cornerstone. This review encompassed an array of cooperative ventures: political exchanges, trade and investments, infrastructure, technology, developmental coordination, defense, security cooperation, alongside cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Both ministers committed to adapting the partnership to contemporary exigencies, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation, especially in seminal areas such as semiconductor ecosystems, green technologies, and defense equipment.
Regional and global matters of mutual interest also featured prominently, reflecting a concerted commitment to the Indo-Pacific region’s peace and stability. Engagements with Japanese political luminaries, including Taro Aso, Toshimitsu Motegi, and Yoshihide Suga, reaffirmed the solid foundation supporting Indo-Japanese bilateral relations.
A significant gesture during the visit was Dr. Jaishankar’s meeting with Akie Abe, where he conveyed PM Modi’s condolences for Yoko Abe’s passing, highlighting the personal connections underpinning the strategic partnership.
At the inaugural Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo and subsequently at the Nikkei Forum, Dr. Jaishankar elucidated the trajectory of Indo-Japan relations against the backdrop of evolving global dynamics, signaling a new era of cooperation poised to reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
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