Addressing the 6th India-Japan Indo-Pacific Forum, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday underscored the significant growth in the India-Japan partnership in recent years. Speaking at the virtual forum, Jaishankar emphasized the growing collaboration observed in key initiatives such as the Quad, the supply chain resilience initiative, the clean energy partnership, and the semiconductor supply chain partnership. Additionally, he highlighted India’s active participation in multilateral efforts, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEC).
Jaishankar identified these collaborations as crucial for establishing a dependable and resilient global economy. Japan, he noted, continues to play a vital role in India’s economic development by actively participating in various national campaigns and flagship initiatives across sectors such as infrastructure development, ICT and digitization, energy, space, food processing, science and technology, healthcare, and R&D cooperation.
Both nations are actively working towards achieving the Yen 5 trillion investment goal, approximately USD 42 billion, over the next five years, in pursuit of shared objectives.
Highlighting the growth in defense and security ties, Jaishankar pointed to increased defense exchanges and milestones like the Veer Guardian bilateral fighter aircraft exercise. He expressed the potential for further collaboration in defense equipment and technology.
As chairs of the G20 and G7 in 2023, India and Japan hold significant roles. Jaishankar emphasized India’s unique responsibility during its G20 presidency, focusing on a vision of “one earth, one family, and one future” that addresses the concerns of many rather than the narrow interests of a few. He highlighted India’s initiative in admitting the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, providing them a crucial voice in the international institution.
In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, 2023 has been designated as the India-Japan tourism exchange year under the theme ‘Connecting the Himalayas with Mount Fuji.’ The celebrations aim to foster greater engagement between the two nations, strengthening the foundation of their ties. Jaishankar concluded by emphasizing the forum as a platform that brings together diverse perspectives to enhance and elevate the India-Japan relationship.