Kishida met PM Modi In a major development in the global order, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in New Delhi, where the two leaders discussed a range of issues including boosting ties and a new Indo-Pacific plan. During the most talked about meeting, the leaders of the two countries also shared their perspectives on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Notably, the meeting was held on the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow over the Ukraine peace plan.
Kishida invites PM Modi for G7 meeting
According to the statement released by Japan, PM Kishida invited PM Modi to the summit of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations in May and discussed action plans for a new Indo-Pacific initiative aimed at countering China’s influence in the region. declare.
Kishida, who is on a two-day visit to India, said he hopes to promote the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, a Tokyo-led initiative for greater security and economic cooperation that reflects Beijing’s growing assertiveness. ready to stop. This includes Japan’s assistance to emerging economies, support for maritime security, provision of Coast Guard patrol boats and equipment, and other infrastructure support.
This fits in with Japan’s new national security strategy adopted in December, under which Tokyo is deploying long-range cruise missiles to strengthen its strike-back capability and strategic alliances in support of like-minded countries. increasingly using development aid.
China’s growing influence
China’s territorial claims in East China and the South China Sea have troubled Beijing’s smaller neighbors in Southeast Asia as well as Japan, which also faces threats from North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments. Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have also deteriorated since 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops clashed along their undefined border in the Himalayan Ladakh region, killing 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
Kishida held talks with Modi to deepen bilateral cooperation, also addressing food security and development financing. The two leaders said they would cooperate closely in tackling a wide range of global challenges, including rising prices of energy and food supplies since Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Kishida said Modi has accepted his invitation to attend the G-7 summit in the western Japanese city of Hiroshima in May.
In his statement, Kishida said he told Modi that he looked forward to meeting the challenges at the summit, including upholding the rules-based international order and strengthening partnerships with the international community, which would 7 and includes the Global South. Developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
In a speech, Modi said the two leaders also discussed their respective priorities for their respective presidencies of the G-7 and G-20. Japan holds the presidency of the G-7 in 2023 and has called for deeper ties with developing countries to lay the groundwork for a successful summit.
Kishida raised the issues of Russia-Ukraine war
In an article for the Indian Express newspaper, Kishida said, “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine had shaken the foundations of the order in the international community” and its effects were felt everywhere, including in the Indo-Pacific region on food access and fertilizer prices. Was.
“To respond effectively to the various challenges the international community is currently facing, cooperation between the G-7 and the G-20 is of paramount importance. Such pressing challenges include food security, climate and energy, fair and transparent development finance,” Kishida wrote.
India and Japan share strong economic ties. In the financial year 2021-2022, there was a trade of $ 20.57 billion between the two.
Japan supports India’s high-speed train
Japanese investments in India reached $32 billion between 2000 and 2019. Japan is also supporting infrastructure development in India, including a high-speed rail project.
During the talks, a note was exchanged between the two sides regarding the provision of the fourth tranche of Japanese loan of up to 300 billion yen (about Rs 18,000 crore) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail.
“The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership is based on our shared democratic values and respect for the rule of law in the international arena,” Modi said in his media statement.
He said, “Strengthening this partnership is not only important for both our countries, but it also promotes peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In our talks today, we reviewed the progress made in our bilateral relations.” Is it.”
(with inputs from agencies)