
New Delhi [India], July 28 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Takehiro Funakoshi, on Monday for the bilateral Foreign Secretary–Vice Minister Dialogue in the national capital.
During the dialogue, Misri and his counterpart reaffirmed the growing importance of the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership for peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Both sides exchanged views on the entire spectrum of the multi-faceted India–Japan bilateral relationship, including political ties, defense and security, economic security, trade and investment, infrastructure cooperation, technology, and people-to-people exchanges, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.
“They also exchanged views on global and regional issues of importance,” the statement added.
The dialogue was instrumental in reviewing progress in various dimensions of the bilateral ties, exploring new areas of collaboration, and contributing to further deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Japan.
“Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri met visiting Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takehiro Funakoshi in New Delhi today,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X. “They reviewed India–Japan bilateral relations and discussed possibilities of expanded cooperation. Also exchanged views on regional and global issues of interest,” the post added.
India and Japan share a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership.” The friendship between the two countries has a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and strong cultural and civilizational ties, according to the MEA.
India–Japan relations were elevated to a “Global Partnership” in 2000, a “Strategic and Global Partnership” in 2006, and a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” in 2014. Regular annual summits have been held between India and Japan since 2006 (the most recent summit was held in March 2022). In 2022, Prime Minister Kishida paid an official visit to India to attend the 14th India–Japan Annual Summit. Both sides issued a joint statement titled, “Partnership for a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Post-COVID World.”
Again in 2023, Prime Minister Kishida visited India and held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. PM Kishida also delivered a policy speech titled “The Future of the Indo-Pacific: Japan’s New Plan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”