New Delhi: India and Japan will hold their first Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) here tomorrow, with the main focus being the Indo-Pacific region amidst China’s growing assertiveness in the maritime zone, particularly the South China Sea.
Under the format, which India has with the US, Foreign and Defence Ministers of the two countries will jointly participate in the discussions.
“The 2+2 meeting would provide 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’,” said a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry here today.
“The two sides will also exchange 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,” it added.
Both India and Japan have been opposed to China’s absolute claim on South China Sea and have been emphasizing that the maritime lanes should be free for navigation as per the international laws.
The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October last year to institute this mechanism for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will head the Indian delegation for the meeting while the Japanese delegation will be led by Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defence Taro Kono.
