Tokyo: Amid China's growing assertiveness, India and Japan on Thursday agreed to further increase the scope and complexities of their joint military exercises while emphasising that their strong ties are very important for a free, open, rule-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
During the second India Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the defence ministers of both nation noted with pleasure that the air services of the two countries are working closely for the early conduct of inaugural India-Japan fighter exercise.
"During today’s discussions, we noted the progress in the military to military cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. We shared a common desire to further increase the scope and complexities of our bilateral exercises," said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a statement after the Dialogue.
The Joint Statement issues after the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue said that "The Ministers also expressed their shared intention to make continuous efforts towards more complex and sophisticated bilateral exercise." We held extensive discussions on ways to enhance maritime cooperation including Maritime Domain Awareness, Rajnath Singh said.
"There is consensus on both sides that a strong India-Japan relationship is very important for a free, open, rule-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific based upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations," the Minister added. Rajnath Singh said that enhancing the Defence Equipment and Technological Cooperation between India and Japan is one of the key priority areas.
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"In our meeting today, I had the opportunity to propose engagements in emerging and critical technological domains. I have also invited the Japanese defence companies to look at opportunities in investing in the Indian Defence Corridors," he said. "We had the opportunity today to share our views on important issues, regional and global, and concurred on the need for peaceful resolution of disputes in consonance with international law," he added.
Singh said that the participation of Japan for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN and operationalization of the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement in March this year are milestones in the progress of defence cooperation between the Forces. We are happy to note that our Air Forces are working closely for early conduct of the inaugural Air Force fighter exercise, he added.
The Defence Minister said that India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) shares many commonalities with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
Further, the Joint Statement after the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue said that the two Ministers noted the progress in the defence cooperation and exchanges between the two sides and welcomed the participation of Japan for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN and the operationalization of the Agreement Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces in the exercise.
The Ministers expressed their commitment to continuing bilateral and multilateral exercises including Dharma Guardian, JIMEX and Malabar, the Joint Statement said. (UNI)
