JOINT STATEMENT OF DEFENCE MINISTERS
The Defence Minister of Japan Gen Nakatani paid a visit to India at the invitation of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The two held the annual Defence Ministerial Meeting on July14, 2016, and issued a joint statement, salient aspects of which are given below: the framework of the ‘India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.’ There was shared recognition that imperatives of a stronger bilateral strategic partnership require deep and broad-based cooperation and concrete actions in defence and security fields including stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. - ous threats to the peace and security of the international community, as well as to the stability and development of the region. They emphasised that the evolving character of terrorism called for stronger international partnership in combating terrorism. security and stability of the seas connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans are indispensable for the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. They reaffirmed the importance of respecting international law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS, of the peaceful settlement of the disputes without any threat or use of force and of ensuring freedom and safety of navigation and over-flight as well as unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters. - cern over North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. - portance of ASEAN-centred dialogue mechanisms including the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. of the bilateral memorandum on De - tween the two Defence Ministries, in September 2014, and the conclusion of agreement concerning Transfer of Defence Equipment & Technology and agreement concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information during IndiaJapan summit meeting in December 2015. The Ministers underlined their and effective cooperation and in a number of areas. Planned high-level and working-level as under: The Defence Minister of India will visit Japan in 2017. - tive defence forces. Minister/Secretary level Defence Poli Secretary level ‘2+2’ dialogue. Strategic Dialogue between the two Defence Ministries. - es between Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. - faction at close linkages between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force specially the IndiaUS-Japan Trilateral Joint Maritime held in 2017. and Japan Air Self-Defense Force including in the areas of flight safety, test pilots, transport aircraft units, etc.
The Ministers welcomed the conclusion of agreements in this regard and reaffirmed their commitment to continue discussions to deepen the bilateral defence relationship including through technology cooperation and co-development. They also commended the effort made by both countries regarding the cooperation on US-2 amphibious aircraft which was launched in 2013.