Khurshid greets Japanese counterpart Kishida on appointment

"External Affairs Minister noted that India and Japan are bound by strong cultural ties, shared values of democracy and our desire for peace and progress.

"He also underlined that the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan is marked by close cooperation in number of areas of mutual interest, including economic and industrial collaboration," official sources said.

Khurshid also expressed his desire of working with him in further "expanding and deepening Strategic Partnership" for benefit of both the countries and for peace and prosperity of Asia and the world.

Newly-elected Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed lower house lawmaker Kishida to the key post of foreign minister on Wednesday.