Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Monday reviewed the evolving security scenario in the Indo-Pacific and agreed to further bolster bilateral cooperation in third countries for peace, prosperity and development in the region.
The two leaders held a meeting on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit here during which China’s fast expanding military and economic expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region figured prominently among several other key issues, officials said.
Without giving specific details of the talks, the External Affairs Ministry said the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on a rules-based order.
They agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, including in third countries, to achieve the shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress of the Indo-Pacific region, it said in a statement.
The resolve by Mr. Modi and Mr. Abe to work towards a stable Indo-Pacific comes in the midst of rising disquiet among several member countries of the 10-nation ASEAN over China’s increasing assertiveness in maritime limits in the region.
The Ministry said the two leaders also deliberated on the inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ Indo-Japan Foreign and Defence ministerial dialogue later this month in India, noting that it will help provide impetus to security and defence cooperation between the two sides.
Mr. Modi said he eagerly looked forward to welcoming the Japanese Prime Minister in India next month for the annual India-Japan summit.
In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Mr. Modi and Mr. Abe prepared the ground for India-Japan dialogue and the annual summit in their discussion.
Mr. Modi also said he was convinced of the success of the forthcoming annual summit in further deepening the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership, according to the Ministry.
It was the third meeting between Mr. Modi and Mr. Abe in the last four months. Their previous meeting was in Vladivostok, Russia in September.
The leaders welcomed the increasing economic engagement between the two countries, propelled by high-level exchanges. The leaders also reviewed the progress of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project and reaffirmed their commitment to advance mutual efforts to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project, the Ministry said.
It said Mr. Modi also congratulated his counterpart on the recent coronation of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, while Mr. Abe warmly recalled the participation of President Ram Nath Kovind in the ceremony.
