Foreign Secretary Misri has wide-ranging discussions with senior officials in the Japanese Government
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s first official visit to Japan after assuming office on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) helped reinforce the bilateral relationship between the two countries which has been marked by a growing convergence on critical issues in recent years.

While in Tokyo, Foreign Secretary Misri had wide-ranging discussions during a series of meetings and interactions with senior officials in the Japanese Government. He also conducted the first round of Dialogue on Economic Security, including Strategic Trade and Technology, as well as the FS-Vice Ministerial Dialogue with Masataka Okano, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during the Dialogue on Economic Security, Strategic Trade and Technology, the two sides covered topics related to economic security, supply chain resilience, and partnership in critical and emerging technologies. 

On the other hand, as part of the FS-Vice Ministerial Dialogue, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, including political relations, defence and security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties, besides discussing regional and international issues of common interest.

During his visit, Foreign Secretary Misri met with other senior functionaries of the Japanese government, including Takehiko Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan to discuss economic and high technology cooperation. Another significant meeting was with Keiichi Ichikawa, Deputy Secretary General of National Security Secretariat and Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, focused on the India-Japan security and economic partnership. 

The Indian Foreign Secretary also met Yoshimichi Terada, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to review bilateral cooperation for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, popularly referred to as the Bullet Train project.

Additionally, Foreign Secretary Misri interacted with Japanese policymakers and senior officials from key government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, JETRO, JICA and JAXA.

Foreign Secretary's Misri’s visit reinforced the strong and enduring friendship between India and Japan, rooted in shared values, mutual respect, mutual trust and commitment to regional stability, the MEA noted.

India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership
India and Japan share a 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' which is now in its 10th year and is based on the shared values of democracy, freedom and rule of law.

Earlier this year, meeting for the 3rd India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue held in New Delhi on August 20, 2024, the two sides discussed stronger cooperation in the spheres of defence and security. A key point of discussion was the early transfer of Japan's Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) and related technologies to India. The talks also focused on accelerating future cooperation in defence equipment and technology.
 
The ministers also shared the intention to revise and update the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between India and Japan to reflect contemporary priorities and be responsive to contemporary security challenges facing them.

Meeting the visiting Japanese Ministers who called on him on August 19, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that the India-Japan partnership plays a crucial role in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. PM Modi also underscored the importance of holding the 2+2 Dialogue in the context of increasingly complex regional and global order, and deepening ties between India and Japan.