Building long-term trust between India and Japan
Both PMs welcomed collaborative projects to enhance security in the form of the new ministerial 2+2 dialogue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third official visit to Japan started at a lakeside hotel near Mount Fuji, surrounded by tinted autumnal leaves. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spent an entire day together, having strategic discussions with restricted members, visiting the FANUC robot factory and joining a ride on the express train to Tokyo.
Modi became the first foreign leader to be invited to PM Abe’s private holiday home. The next day in Tokyo, Modi met senior political and business leaders.
The outcome of the visit was extensive. We ended up releasing a 7,400-word fact sheet on 12 areas, in addition to the JapanIndia Vision Statement and 24 MoUs/ MOCs. The success of the visit cannot be measured by the length of documents or the number of MoUs, but there were genuinely transformational agreements and announcements.
The phrase which comes to my mind when talking about the substance of this year’s summit is “Shared Security, Shared Prosperity and Shared Destiny”.
As mentioned in the vision statement, Japan and India have made enormous progress in fostering joint efforts towards “shared security”. This year, we have come to demonstrate that the security and defence cooperation are rapidly catching up with the already robust economic partnership. The highly symbolic achievement was the agreement to institute the foreign and defence ministerial “2+2” Dialogue. It will oversee and give political guidance to our security cooperation towards achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The two leaders welcomed the commencement of the formal negotiations to conclude the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). The ACSA will pro-
In such times,we must remember to plan ahead and work hard.
American author John C Maxwell says: “Life can be very boring if you don’t put some effort into it.” That means it is important that you have to have definite and positive plans on a daily basis, both, short term and long term ones as well.
Life has to be a well-planned journey in which every movement should stand for something good in your mission.
Once that is in place, whatever your other plans may be; visiting a friend, taking vide a framework concerning the reciprocal provision of supplies and services, and enhance joint exercises and other cooperation between all three services.
The Implementing Arrangement for deeper naval cooperation was signed. It will enhance maritime security and domain awareness cooperation, establishing the means and framework for information sharing and other maritime engagements, including the exchange of shipping information. The new momentum was added to our economic partnership by the announcement of the largest ever currency swap arrangement, various connectivity projects and new partnerships in wide-ranging socio-economic sectors.
The Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) of $ 75 billion was agreed with a view to enhancing financial and economic cooperation between the two countries. A BSA of $ 75 billion is the largest ever for Japan.
Regarding the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, the two leaders reviewed with satisfaction the progress made on this project, including the signing of the Exchange of Notes for a 150 billion yen loan. Japan remains committed to this project, which will induce economic transformation in India.
The list of outcomes in the economic field goes on to encompass digital partnership, healthcare, food processing, International Solar Alliance and so forth.
The convergence of our strategic vision and objectives was further deepened, based on the conviction expressed by both leaders: “Strong India is in Japan’s interest; strong Japan is in India’s interest.” The destinies of the two countries are intertwined and our cooperation holds the key to the future of the entire Indo-Pacific region.
Based on their shared Indo-Pacific vision, the two leaders reiterated unwavering commitment to working together towards a free and open Indo-Pacific, with special emphasis on Asean’s centrality.
As concrete actions based on their shared vision and principles of quality infrastructure, the two leaders welcomed the collaborative projects to enhance strategic connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region, including in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Africa, as well as India’s North Eastern Region. The concrete projects are highlighted in the fact sheet.
Based on this robust outcome of another historic visit by Prime Minister Modi to Japan and the unshakable trust between the two leaders, I look forward to working with Indian friends to consolidate the India-Japan partnership as the cornerstone of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
BUILDING ON TRADITIONAL TIES, THIS YEAR JAPAN AND INDIA HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT SECURITY AND DEFENCE COOPERATION ARE CATCHING UP WITH THE ALREADY ROBUST ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
a walk and enjoying the bounties of nature or even getting busy in the kitchen can keep you satisfied and happy.
One of my favourite sayings is that your art of living should have an element of your ‘kitchen role’ that keeps you so busy as if you were in a meditative trance, oblivious of all the ills surrounding you. Life is meant to be enjoyed after all.