Page 6 - The Indian EYE 090922

NATION SEPTEMBER 09, 2022 | The Indian Eye 6

2+2 IN TOKYO:

With eye on China, India and Japan plan to

strengthen defense ties

India and Japan to promote a rules-based order, ensuring respect for international law and

norms, and safeguarding the global commons: Jaishankar

OUR BUREAU to find common solutions through di-
alogue & diplomacy,” Jaishankar said.
Tokyo/New Delhi
Jaishankar also said India and Ja-
ndia and Japan on Thursday pan have the responsibility for ensur-
agreed to conduct the inaugural ing a free, open, inclusive and pros-
I‘fighter exercise’ between the Air perous Indo-Pacific and that can be
Forces of both the countries during achieved through a range of policies
bilateral talks with his Japanese coun- and mechanisms, including coopera-
terpart Yasukazu Hamada in Tokyo tion in the Quad framework, utiliza-
on Thursday. According to an official tion of ASEAN platforms and partici-
statement issued by the Defense Min- pation in bodies like ReCAAP, Supply
istry, both countries acknowledged Chain Resilience Initiative.
the importance of the India-Japan de- He further said, “Together, we
fense partnership and the critical role, are also poised to take forward the
it will play in ensuring a free, open Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, In-
and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. do-Pacific Partnership for Maritime
During the delegation-level talks External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence, Domain Awareness and the Indo-Pa-
in Tokyo, Rajnath Singh highlighted Japan, Yasukazu Hamada and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi at the Joint Press cific Economic Framework, amongst
the growing complexities in the In- Statement after the India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Tokyo on Thursday (AN/ PIB) others.” Jaishankar made this state-
dia-Japan bilateral defense exercis- ment in his concluding remarks of the
es as a testimony to the deepening India-Japan 2+2 ministerial meeting
of defense cooperation between the in Tokyo.
two countries and the need to expand India and Japan are committed
the scope of partnership in Defense to promoting a rules-based order,
Equipment and Technological Coop- ensuring respect for international
eration. law and norms, and safeguarding the
The Ministers expressed their global commons, the EAM said. He
commitment to continuing bilateral noted that there is a need of creating
and multilateral exercises including resilient and reliable supply chains in
‘Dharma Guardian’, ‘JIMEX’ and the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.
‘Malabar’. They welcomed the oper- Also, Rajnath Singh on Thursday
ationalization of the Reciprocal Pro- held a bilateral meeting with his Japa-
vision of Supply and Services Agree- nese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada in
ment during Exercise ‘MILAN’ in Tokyo and reviewed various aspects of
March this year, the statement read. cooperation including regional affairs.
Meanwhile, External Affairs “Reviewed various aspects of
Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday bilateral defense cooperation and
said that the ties between the two Rajnath Singh inspecting the guard of honour in Tokyo on Thursday. Japan’s Defense Minister regional affairs during the bilater-
countries have gained new meaning Yasukazu Hamada is also seen (ANI/ PIB) al meeting with Japan’s Minister of
in recent years, adding that the sec- Defense, Yasukazu Hamada in To-
ond 2+2 Ministerial meeting demon- racy, freedom and respect for the rule lessly in extending humanitarian aid, kyo today. This year marks 70 years
strates the commitment of both na- of law. The strategic aspects of the re- medicines, vaccines, foodgrains and of diplomatic relations between the
tions toward strengthening bilateral lationship have gained new meaning many other forms of assistance as a two countries,” Rajnath Singh said
security, strategic aspects and defense in recent years reflected in our recent responsible member of the interna- in a tweet. “India and Japan pursue
cooperation. bilateral & plurilateral engagements,” tional community and reaffirmed the a Special Strategic and Global Part-
He also said that the meeting the EAM said in a statement during importance of working collectively to nership. India’s defense partnership
exhibits the strength of the special the opening remarks of the India-Ja- find common solutions.” with Japan will play a crucial role in
strategic and global partnership while pan 2+2 ministerial meeting in Tokyo. “As responsible members of ensuring free, open and rules-based
emphasizing that energy and food se- Describing energy security and the International community, India Indo-Pacific region,” he said further.
curity have emerged as “particularly food security as pressing issues, Jais- worked tirelessly in extending hu- The economic relationship be-
pressing issues”, which need a collec- hankar stated “the COVID pandemic manitarian aid, medicines, vaccines, tween India and Japan has steadily ex-
tive solution. “India-Japan partner- and ongoing conflicts demand that foodgrains and many other forms of panded and deepened in recent years
ship is of immense importance. It is we address these new challenges. He assistance. As we face these challeng- as the volume of trade between the
rooted in our shared values of democ- also reiterated that India worked tire- es, it is important we work collectively two countries has increased manifold.

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