India, Japan hold 2 plus 2 dialogue

India and Japan held talks on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations among other issues during the fifth 2 plus 2 vice-ministerial level dialogue.

"Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of India-Japan relations and discussed issues having overlapping foreign policy and security dimensions of India-Japan cooperation and consultations," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday read.

"Both sides reaffirmed their common desire to build on the strong foundations of bilateral cooperation and exchanges in order to forge a relationship of mutual benefit. In this context, both sides discussed measures to strengthen cooperation in fields such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, defence equipment and technology, peacekeeping operations," the statement added.

The meeting was co-chaired on the Indian side by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and from the Japanese side by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori and Vice-Minister of Defence for International Affairs Ro Manabe.

The Dialogue was held in a "friendly" and "forward-looking" manner, in keeping with the India-Japan 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership'.

Both sides agreed to synergise Japan's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy' and India's 'Act East Policy' and to work together towards common goals of free and open sea as well as stability and prosperity of the region.

They also discussed the issue of North Korea and the South Asian situations.