New Delhi (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to his Japanese counterpart Kishi Nobuo over telephone and the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral issues, with focus on a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Rajnath also congratulated Nobuo Kishi on his appointment as Japanese Defence Minister and expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries in spite of the limitations imposed by COVID 19, PIB’s Defence Wing said in a statement.
“The two Ministers exchanged views on security situation in the region and the need for a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law,” read the statement. The telephonic conversation between the two leaders also comes amid the prevailing tensions between India and China due to a border stand-off along LAC in Ladakh region for over past eight months.
During the conversation, both the leaders welcomed the successful conduct of joint maritime exercise JIMEX 2020, MALABAR 2020 and also the recent successful visit of Chief of Staff, JASDF to India.
They expressed satisfaction at the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services in further promoting defence ties between the two countries.
During the telephonic conversation, the Ministers reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the Armed Forces under the framework of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, according to the statement.
The Ministers agreed that in the recent past, both countries have made notable strides in Defence Industry and Technology cooperation and look forward to even greater cooperation in this field.
Notably, India and Japan are part of QUAD grouping of nations; the other members are Australia and the US. The four countries have also participated in joint naval drills in the Indo-Pacific region recently to counter the growing assertiveness of China.
-ARK
