India-Japan key pillars of stable, secure Indo-Pacific region: PM says in op-ed in Japanese newspaper
New Delhi, May 23: India and Japan will contribute towards building an open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, connected by secure seas, integrated by trade and investment, defined by respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity and anchored in international law, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an op-ed published in a leading Japanese newspaper on Monday.
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Prime Minister Modi, who is in Japan on a two-day visit to attend a summit of the Quad leaders at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, penned an op-ed on the vibrant relations between India and Japan in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
"Our defence ties are growing rapidly, from exercises and information exchanges to defence manufacturing. We are doing more in cyber, space and underwater domains," Modi said in the op-ed titled 'India-Japan: A Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity'.
He
said
that
India
and
Japan
will
also
contribute
towards
building
an
open,
free
and
inclusive
Indo-Pacific
region,
connected
by
secure
seas,
integrated
by
trade
and
investment,
defined
by
respect
of
sovereignty
and
territorial
integrity
and
anchored
in
international
law,
he
wrote,
amidst
China's
aggressive
actions
in
the
region.
China
has
territorial
disputes
with
many
countries
in
the
strategic
Indo-Pacific
region.
The Chinese government claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. It is also involved in a maritime dispute with Japan over the East China Sea.
"Besides security, together and with like-minded partners in the region and beyond, in institutions and arrangements like Quad, we are promoting initiatives for development, infrastructure, connectivity, sustainability, health, vaccines, capacity building and humanitarian disaster response in the region," Prime Minister Modi said.
A
peaceful
and
prosperous
Indo
Pacific
region
will
be
critical
for
a
better
future
for
the
entire
world,
he
said.
"Special.
Strategic.
Global.
Each
of
these
three
words
that
describe
the
India-Japan
partnership
has
a
unique
significance,
yet
they
fall
well
short
of
the
true
potential
of
our
ties,"
Modi
said.
In a tweet, he said: "Penned an op-ed on the vibrant relations between India and Japan. Ours is a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity. I trace the journey of our special friendship which completes 70 glorious years. @Yomiuri_Online".
"Closer India-Japan cooperation is vital in the post-COVID world. Our nations are firmly committed to democratic values. Together, we are key pillars of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. I am equally glad that we are working closely in various multilateral forums as well.
"I have had the opportunity of regularly interacting with the Japanese people since my days as Gujarat CM. Japan's developmental strides have always been admirable. Japan is partnering India in key sectors including infrastructure, technology, innovation, start-ups and more," he said in a series of tweets.
In the op-ed, Prime Minister Modi said cultural ties that go back centuries; a firm shared belief in the values of democracy, freedom, and a rules-based international order, as well as convergence in regional and global outlook, are the bedrock of ties between India and Japan as trusted and natural partners.
From Bodhisena to Swami Vivekananda, India-Japan cultural ties have a long and rich history of mutual respect and learning from one another, he said.
Among Mahatma Gandhi's cherished personal possessions were small statues of Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru, the Three Wise Monkeys, he said.
Justice Radha Binod Pal is a well-known name in Japan, and Gurudev Tagore's admiration for Japan and interaction with Okakura Tenshin were instrumental in forging early connections between artists and intellectuals on both sides, according to Modi.
"These deep links laid a strong foundation for a modern India-Japan partnership that continues to blossom even as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties," he said.
Prime Minister Modi said that his own conviction about this partnership began in his early days as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
It was not just the sophistication of Japanese technology and skills, but also the seriousness and long-term commitment of Japan's leadership and businesses, that made Japan Gujarat's preferred industrial partner and the most prominent presence in Vibrant Gujarat Summits since its inception, he said.
Japan has also proved to be an invaluable partner in India's journey on the path of development and modernisation. From the automobile sector to industrial corridors, Japanese investments and development assistance have a truly pan-India footprint, according to Modi.
The iconic Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project symbolises Japan's extensive collaboration in some of the most important endeavours to build a New India, he said.
"We have traversed a long distance since we established diplomatic relations in 1952. In my view, though, the best is yet to come. Today, as both India and Japan look to re-invigorate and refashion our economies in a post-Covid era, there is immense scope to deepen our engagement across the entire spectrum from trade and investment, to defence and security," Modi said.
In the last few years, India has embarked on a journey to build a strong foundation for the manufacturing sector, services, agriculture and digital technology infrastructure, he said.
"I see Japan as an indispensable partner in India's continuing transformation. For Japan, India's speed and scale combine with ease of doing business, attractive incentives, bold reforms and ambitious plans to create unmatched opportunities.
"We
have
also
fostered
a
dynamic
start-up
ecosystem
in
India,
with
over
100
unicorns.
The
Japanese
capital
is
already
playing
an
important
role
in
this
effort.
And
there
is
potential
for
a
great
deal
more,"
he
said.
People-to-people
links
between
the
two
countries
have
always
played
an
important
role
in
deepening
the
mutual
understanding.
Many Indians are now working in Japan and contributing to the Japanese economy and society, just as Japanese executives are contributing to economic development in India.
"I am convinced that such complementarities can be enhanced manifold," he said.
The
India-Japan
partnership
has
a
greater
imperative
and
serves
a
larger
purpose,
he
said.
The
Covid
pandemic,
global
tensions
and
disruptive
challenges
to
stability
and
security
in
the
Indo-Pacific
region
have
underlined
the
need
for
building
resilient
supply
chains,
a
human-centric
development
model
and
stable
and
strong
international
economic
relations,
capable
of
resisting
coercion
and
exploitation.
The
bilateral
partnership
will
help
advance
these
goals.
"Crises tend to magnify challenges and accelerate our transition to the future. For this reason, at this pivotal moment for the world, our partnership now faces larger responsibility and greater urgency. Based on all that we share dearly and all that we have built over decades, India and Japan are ready to respond to this calling," he said.
"In Delhi in March 2022, Prime Minister Kishida and I laid out a roadmap for further deepening and broadening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership for our countries to cooperate for a peaceful, stable and prosperous post-COVID world.
"As we mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are also building one of the defining partnerships of our region. I am confident that my meeting with PM Kishida will lead to tangible progress in realising this ambitious agenda," Prime Minister Modi added.
Prime
Minister
Modi
is
visiting
Tokyo
at
the
invitation
of
his
Japanese
counterpart
Fumio
Kishida.
He
will
attend
the
summit
of
the
Quad
leaders
which
is
aimed
at
further
bolstering
cooperation
among
the
member
nations
of
the
influential
grouping
and
discussing
developments
in
the
strategic
Indo-Pacific
region.
Besides Modi, the Quad summit in Tokyo on May 24 will be attended by US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian prime minister-elect Anthony Albanese.
The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. Modi will hold separate bilateral meetings with Biden, Kishida and Albanese on the sidelines of the summit.
Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived in Tokyo today at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. His visit includes the Quad Summit, meeting fellow Quad leaders, interaction with Japanese business leaders and the vibrant Indian diaspora.
Upon his arrival, he received a rousing welcome from the Indian diaspora at the Hotel New Otani where he will be staying during his trip.
"Landed in Tokyo. Will be taking part in various programmes during this visit including the Quad Summit, meeting fellow Quad leaders, interacting with Japanese business leaders and the vibrant Indian diaspora," PM Modi tweeted in both Japanese and English.
He then interacted with a boy who was waiting for him with a drawing of the tricolour. Prime Minister Modi asked him from where he learnt Hindi and praised him for his fluency in the language.
Landed in Tokyo. Will be taking part in various programmes during this visit including the Quad Summit, meeting fellow Quad leaders, interacting with Japanese business leaders and the vibrant Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/ngOs7EAKnU
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2022
"Japan's Indian community has made pioneering contributions in different fields. They have also remained connected with their roots in India. I thank the Indian diaspora in Japan for the warm welcome," PM Modi said in a tweet.
Japan’s Indian community has made pioneering contributions in different fields. They have also remained connected with their roots in India. I thank the Indian diaspora in Japan for the warm welcome. pic.twitter.com/cfMCzM4XVf
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2022
"Closer India-Japan cooperation is vital in the post-COVID world. Our nations are firmly committed to democratic values. Together, we are key pillars of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. I am equally glad that we are working closely in various multilateral forums as well," he added.
Besides PM Modi, the Quad summit in Tokyo on May 24 will be attended by US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian prime minister-elect Anthony Albanese.