Tokyo/New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) The Japanese Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, made a formal visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, emphasizing that Japan and India are "natural partners" connected by shared core values and strategic interests.

As stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the encounter between Motegi and PM Modi lasted roughly 50 minutes.

"At the onset of the meeting, Minister Motegi remarked that Japan and India are "natural partners" with mutual fundamental values and strategic interests, expressing hope to collaborate towards realizing a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" grounded in their robust bilateral relations. PM Modi welcomed Minister Motegi's presence in India, expressing a desire to enhance cooperation under the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership," as per a statement released by Tokyo.

The two nations agreed to further stimulate bilateral exchanges in 2027, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and India.

"With the "Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade", which was introduced during PM Modi's visit to Japan last August, the two leaders engaged in an open dialogue covering various domains, including security, economic security, economy, investment, innovation, AI, and people-to-people exchanges, aiming to enhance Japan-India relations further," stated the Japanese MFA.

Minister Motegi, who arrived in New Delhi late Thursday, also co-chaired the 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue on Friday with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.

During their discussions, they addressed topics such as economic cooperation, maritime issues, supply chains, critical minerals, technology, and multi-lateral collaboration between both nations.

"I am pleased to co-chair the 18th India - Japan Strategic Dialogue with FM Toshimitsu Motegi in New Delhi today. Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership is progressing positively and has significant potential for influencing the global order and reducing risks to the international economy," EAM Jaishankar shared on X.

"Today's talks on profound economic, maritime, supply chain, critical minerals, technology, and multi-lateral cooperation reflected our shared interests and mutual understanding. We also had a fruitful exchange regarding the Indo-Pacific and various regional and global developments," he added.

Earlier, EAM Jaishankar warmly welcomed Toshimitsu Motegi.

"It is my pleasure to welcome FM Toshimitsu Motegi to India. While engaging in our strategic discussions today, I was especially delighted to discover that FM Motegi is also a cricket enthusiast. In the spirit of our shared love for the game, I was honored to present him with a Japan national cricket team jersey and a bat signed by the Indian cricket team," he posted on X.

In his introductory remarks during the 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue, EAM Jaishankar highlighted that New Delhi places the utmost importance on collaborating with Tokyo in international platforms such as the Quad, the United Nations, and the G20.

"As I welcome you, I wish to emphasize that India holds significant weight in its friendship with Japan. Over the last twenty years, we have successfully transformed our relationship from a primarily economic engagement to one that is broad, comprehensive, and strategically focused. We prioritize our collaboration with Japan in international discussions, particularly within the Quad, the United Nations, our G4 membership, and the G20," EAM Jaishankar said.

"Reflecting on the relationship, it is crucial to remember that it was a Japanese Prime Minister who, during his address to the Indian Parliament, laid the foundation for the emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a political, economic, and strategic construct. Much time has passed since then, yet our initiative, which we refer to as Mahasagar, aligns closely with your vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," he continued.

EAM Jaishankar underscored the importance of India and Japan closely collaborating towards shared strategic aspirations amid the current global uncertainties. He extended a cordial welcome to Toshimitsu Motegi and reminisced about their prior meeting.

"As leading democracies and significant global economies, we possess not only the opportunity but also the responsibility to shape the global order. In today's unpredictable global landscape, it is even more essential for us to work unitedly towards our shared strategic objectives," he stated.

He remarked that India and Japan will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2027 and noted that the "special, strategic, and global partnership is consistently progressing positively."