India and Japan look beyond Quad, AUKUS, to strengthen trade ties

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Suga Yoshihide for a bilateral a day before the four-member Quad meeting with China as the backdrop. This was Modi's first in-person meeting with Suga after the latter took over as the Japanese Prime Minister last September.<br />
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The two leaders discussed global developments including Afghanistan and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.<br />
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A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said that the two Prime Ministers agreed to strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation including in the area of military equipment and technologies.<br />
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<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/opinion-news/the-quad-changes-track-in-the-indo-pacific-from-security-moves-to-vaccines-supply-chains-and-development-116411.html">Partners in the Quad</a>, the two nations are keen to improve their bilateral relations as well as cooperation within Asia with a view to balancing China. India and Japan have been working together in funding and improving infrastructure projects in Myanmar as well as Sri Lanka to reduce the Chinese influence in the region.<br />
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Both nations have been at the receiving end of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's aggression. While the PLA launched an attack on India in 2020, <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/taiwan-sees-greater-role-for-japan-to-counter-china-in-the-indo-pacific-107060.html">Japan feels threatened </a>by repeated Chinese war cries of invading and annexing Taiwan.</p>
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On the bilateral agenda was fixing supply chain issues, increasing trade and commerce. The two countries have also launched the Supply Chain resilience Initiative (SCRI) with Australia to provide for reliable and diversified supply chains. Modi highlighted the need to develop bilateral partnerships in manufacturing, MSME and skill development.<br />
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The two leaders also discussed the global pandemic and how to address its health and economic impacts. They identified digital technologies as a solution to battling the pandemic through the India-Japan Digital Partnership, especially in the area of start-ups.<br />
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Japan has been taking a keen interest in developing India's north-east region with a view to integrating India better with the South East Asian nations. The two discussed the progress in developmental projects in the north-east under the India-Japan Act East Forum.<br />
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The prime ministers exchanged views on climate change issues, green energy transition, and the potential for Japanese collaboration with India’s National Hydrogen Energy Mission.</p>
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<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/india-japan-germany-and-brazil-mount-joint-offensive-to-reform-the-un-security-council-116708.html">The two nations are also collaborating for reforms</a> to the UN Security Council, one of the most powerful bodies of the UN. They are supporting each other for permanent membership of the UNSC.<br />
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