Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed that India is Japan’s “most important” partner in its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy,” as both countries agreed to step up cooperation in their “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” during annual consultations and exchanged yen loan agreements for $1.4 billion.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserted, “Our growing convergence on economic and strategic issues is important for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Swaraj and Kono discussed a wide range of bilateral issues during the 9th India-Japan Strategic dialogue in Tokyo, while setting the agenda for the visit of Pm Narendra Modi to Japan for the annual summit with PM Shinzo Abe.
They also witnessed the exchange of documents for loans from Japan to India for projects including the Mumbai metro line from Cuffe Parade, a sea water desalinisation plant and a intelligent transport system to reduce traffic congestion in Chennai, tree-planting schemes in Himachal Pradesh and loans for the North East connectivity project as well.
