New Delhi

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar today said that India and Japan need to collaborate more closely on foreign policy and security questions.

“The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Meeting takes place in the backdrop of a complicated global environment. Conflicts and climate events have further aggravated the global economic situation, creating deep anxieties in respect of energy and food security. Trust and transparency are our shared concerns in a digitized world.

In the face of such challenges, the case for India and Japan to collaborate more closely on foreign policy and security questions has become even stronger,” said Jaishankar in a Press statement in  Japan's capital Tokyo after participating in the Ministerial Meeting along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Japan’s Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada.

Jaishankar said, “We are two nations committed to promoting a rules-based order, ensuring respect for international law and norms, and safeguarding the global commons. To our endeavors in that regard are now added the necessity of creating resilient and reliable supply chains in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic. Our consultations in various formats have dwelt on the imperative of economic security. We are also working together on cyber security, 5G deployment, and critical and strategic minerals. These were part of the agenda of our deliberations today.’’

He added that it is essential for India and Japan to strengthen foreign policy coordination to realize the true benefits of the substantial convergence in our interests and outlook. They obviously concentrate on the Indo-Pacific but extend to many other regional, global and multilateral platforms as well.

The External Affairs Minister acknowledged that the exchange of views on Thursday on the crucial situations facing the international community was useful.

He also mentioned the ongoing efforts to deepen India-Japan defence exchanges and explore areas for practical cooperation.

“Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership reflects interests and increase our footprint that extends well beyond the immediate region. In growing our own ties and working with other partners, we are both guided by shared values and common principles. We have a particular responsibility for ensuring a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. That is done through a range of policies and mechanisms, including cooperation in the Quad framework, utilization of ASEAN platforms, and participation in bodies like ReCAAP, Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, etc,’’ Jaishankar said.

He said that India and Japan are also poised to take forward the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, amongst others.

Jaishankar said that India and Japan are members of influential global groupings. India will be chairing the G20 next year, overlapping with Japan chairing the G-7. “Our common commitment to reformed multilateralism is reflected in the G-4 consultations that we have regularly, which we will be held later in the month. As active providers of development assistance, we see benefits of cooperating in third countries, especially in South East Asia, South Asia, and Africa,” he said.

He said that the Annual Summit between Prime Ministers of India and Japan has provided guidance for the 2+2 meeting. “I am confident that our deliberations in turn will contribute to the further intensification and development of our partnership.”

The External Affairs Minister also thanked the Government of Japan and specifically, Ministers, the two of you for extending a warm welcome and hosting the Indian delegations in Tokyo.