New Delhi (NVI): India and Japan today finalised the cybersecurity agreement that will promote cooperation in capacity building, research and development, security and resilience in the areas of Critical Information Infrastructure, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), between the two countries.
The development took place External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo today as the two leaders met for 13th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.
Recognizing the increasing role being played by digital technologies, the two ministers highlighted the need for robust and resilient digital and cyber systems and in this context, welcomed the finalization of the text of the cybersecurity agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
The cooperation on developing 5G technology between the two countries comes in the wake of China’s growing prowess in the Indo-Pacific and Beijing’s muscle-flexing in the region.
Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Japan. The security dialogue between took EAM and his Japanese counterpart took place a day after foreign representatives of Quadrilateral (Quad) coalition comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia held talks in the Japanese capital yesterday that was primarily focused on strengthening cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad Foreign Ministers met here against the backdrop of growing aggression by China because of which most of its neighbours are troubled and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region has been hampered.
During today’s meeting, Jaishankar and Toshimitsu Motegi concurred that the Indo-Pacific region has acquired greater salience in recent times and underscored the need for India and Japan to work together for the benefit of the region.
Reaffirming the similarities in their respective Indo-Pacific visions, that are based on rule of law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Japanese side agreed to be the lead partner in the connectivity pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and jointly take both countries’ respective visions for the Indo-Pacific forward, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
“They emphasized that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on diversified and resilient supply chains; and in this context, welcomed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative between India, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries,” the MEA statement read.
Jaishankar and Motegi also deliberated on long-pending reform of the United Nations and ways to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan yesterday vowed to intensify cooperation to ensure an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
In today’s strategic dialogue EAM Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed that the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries will play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed that the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries will play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also emphasized that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on diversified and resilient supply chains; and in this context, welcomed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative between India, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries, the MEA said.
During the strategic dialogue, Jaishankar and Toshimitsu Motegi also wished each other the very best and looked forward to the conduct of the next Annual Bilateral Summit in India at a mutually convenient time for the two Prime Ministers.
-ARK
