India, Japan agree to further intensify strategic ties

India and Japan today inked 15 agreements to further broad-base their strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region where China is increasing its assertiveness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held wide-ranging talks on key bilateral, regional and international issues and discussed ways to deepen ties in trade, security and civil nuclear energy.

Addressing a joint press event with Abe, Modi said Indo-Japan ties were not limited to bilateral or regional spheres. The two sides also closely cooperated on key global issues.

During the talks between the two leaders, India and Japan inked 15 pacts to give a boost to cooperation in various key sectors, including civil aviation, trade and science and technology.

"We have just signed a joint statement which will serve as a milestone to open a new era for Japan-India relationship... Based on that we will strongly promote Japan- India special strategic and global partnership to drive peace and prosperity for Indo-Pacific region and the whole world," Abe said.

The visiting leader also referred to the recent Malabar Japan-India-US naval exercise and said cooperation would be further strengthened.

Abe said the two sides had agreed upon a Japan-India investment support road map.