Japanese Ambassador to India Keiichi Ono on Wednesday said the visit of Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to the country began with “fruitful discussions” on advancing maritime cooperation between India and Japan.
“Welcome to India, Minister Koizumi @shinjirokoiz, Defense Minister of Japan! The 2-day program began yesterday with a visit to the Western Naval Command in Mumbai. Had fruitful discussions on advancing maritime cooperation,” Ono said in a post on X.
Koizumi arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday for his maiden official visit to India, beginning a two-day programme focused on strengthening bilateral defence ties and enhancing maritime security cooperation.
Upon his arrival, Koizumi inspected a Guard of Honour at the Western Naval Command and laid a wreath at the Gaurav Stambh at the Naval Dockyard.
The Japanese Defence Minister also visited the indigenous stealth destroyer INS Chennai and held discussions with Indian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahajan Vatsayan.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Japanese delegation was briefed on the operational capabilities, roles and regional responsibilities of the Indian Navy.
Koizumi is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting is expected to focus on further strengthening bilateral defence relations, enhancing strategic trust and cooperation, and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Defence Ministry said the two ministers will exchange views on deeper maritime security cooperation and closer collaboration in defence equipment and technology under the ‘Make-in-India’ framework.
The discussions will also follow Japan’s revision of its Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology.
The Ministry said the meeting will provide an opportunity to build a roadmap for advancing India-Japan defence and security cooperation. Both countries share a vision of a free, open, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The high-level engagement comes weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India in July for the 16th Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the summit, the two sides agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation, with agreements worth more than USD 10 billion aimed at boosting investments in AI, defence and clean energy, alongside a target of 10 trillion yen in Japanese investments in India over the next decade.
The two-day visit of the Japanese Defence Minister underscores the growing momentum in India-Japan defence cooperation and the commitment of both sides to further expand the strategic partnership.
-ANI
