PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Japan’s Fumio Kishida on critical global issues

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held delegation-level talks in Delhi on Monday
• The talks focused on opportunities to synergize their efforts and cooperate on critical global issues such as rising food and energy prices, ensuring peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region
• The meeting comes at a crucial time as India hosts the G20 summit in September, while Japan will chair the G7 summit in May

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held delegation-level talks in Delhi on Monday, focusing on opportunities to synergize their efforts and cooperate on critical global issues such as rising food and energy prices, ensuring peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting comes at a crucial time as India hosts the G20 summit in September, while Japan will chair the G7 summit in May. The two sides discussed regional and global issues of common concern, including the role of the India-Japan partnership in promoting peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, state-run DD News said in a tweet. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the meeting between the two leaders will serve as an opportunity to review progress in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Earlier in the day, the Japanese Prime Minister paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the national capital. The Japanese prime minister is also expected to unveil his "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" plan, outlining India's increasingly prominent role in the Indo-Pacific region.

PM Kishida's office posted a tweet that read: “PM Kishida: From now on I will be heading to #India to meet PM Modi (@narendramodi). This year, #Japan chairs the #G7 while India chairs the #G20. Prime Minister Modi and I will exchange views on the role our two countries should play as we work to address growing international challenges.

“I also intend to further strengthen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan. Additionally, during my stay in India, I will announce a new plan related to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (#FOIP). I will describe specifically my thoughts on what the future should look like for a free and open Indo-Pacific at a historic turning point," the tweet reads.

Kishida's visit is expected to last approximately 27 hours. During the talk, he will unveil his "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace" and highlight the importance of India's role in the Indo-Pacific.

Kishida announced in June last year at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that he would present a plan for the Indo-Pacific next spring. “By next spring, I will develop a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan' that will strengthen Japan's efforts to further advance the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the provision of patrol vessels and the strengthening of maritime law. law enforcement capabilities, as well as cyber security, digital and green initiatives and economic security,” he said.