India and Japan on Tuesday reviewed the entire spectrum of their strategic and defence ties in the 2+2 ministerial dialogue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the last decade, the relationship has assumed the form of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
"Our cooperation is today set against a larger context of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. For India, this is a natural extrapolation from our Act East policy. Indeed, the proportion of our activities and interests East of India has been steadily growing," he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Japanese Minister of Defence Kihara Minoru and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa for the 3rd India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
Elaborating upon the ties, Jaishankar said the logic of this evolution is "our expanding interests and growing activities. As we both step forward into a more volatile and unpredictable world, there is a need for reliable partners with whom there are substantial convergences.
As a result, "we have consciously sought to facilitate each other's endeavours, comprehend each other's objectives, strengthen each other's positions and work with other nations of shared comfort. Our Strategic Partnership will continue to grow as we embrace mutuality and display sensitivity,"
Jaishankar said "We mark the 10th anniversary of our Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The 2+2 must particularly focus on the steps ahead. It is two years since we last met in Tokyo. There have been many developments of consequence in the world. Our own relationship also has to factor in changes in our own capabilities and calculations."
During the bilateral talks and 2+2 meeting, the Ministers reviewed the bilateral cooperation and explored new initiatives to further strengthen the engagements between the two countries. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.