New Delhi, August 20: Cooperation between India and Japan is today set against a larger context of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday while noting that the two countries have consciously sought to facilitate each other's endeavours, comprehend each other's objectives and work with other nations of shared comfort.
In his opening remarks at the third round of the India-Japan 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial meeting held here, Jaishankar also spoke of the need of reliable partners in a more volatile and unpredictable world.
He said the bilateral relationship has assumed the form of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in the last decade.
"The logic of this evolution is our expanding interests and growing activities. As we both step forward into a more volatile and unpredictable world, there is a need for reliable partners with whom there are substantial convergences."
"As a result, we have consciously sought to facilitate each other's endeavours, comprehend each other's objectives, strengthen each other's positions and work with other nations of shared comfort. Our Strategic Partnership will continue to grow as we embrace mutuality and display sensitivity," he added.
Jaishankar said that the bilateral relationship also has to factor in "changes in our own capabilities and calculations".
"Our cooperation is today set against a larger context of a free, open and rulesbased Indo-Pacific. For India, this is a natural extrapolation from our Act East policy. Indeed, the proportion of our activities and interests East of India has been steadily growing," he said (ANI)
