Press Releases
Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Conversation
Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a telephone conversation for approximately 15 minutes starting from 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, with H.E. Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs of India. The overview is as follows.
1. Minister Kono expressed his gratitude for the congratulatory message from Foreign Minister Swaraj to Minister Kono upon his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Minister Kono stated that he hoped to meet Minister Swaraj soon to hold the Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue and that he would also like to take the opportunity of the United Nations General Assembly to meet. Furthermore, he stated that he placed importance on Japan-India cooperation in the area of United Nations Security Council reform, and that in advance of the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India, he wanted Japan and India to work together to push forward high-speed rail and other joint initiatives of the two countries.
2. Foreign Minister Swaraj once again expressed her congratulations to Minister Kono on his appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and stated that she was enthusiastic about engaging in all forms of dialogue with Minister Kono, including the Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Minister Swaraj expressed her hope to meet with Minister Kono soon on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly and in Delhi. Furthermore, she shared the view on the need to concretely advance United Nations Security Council reform, and stated that it is possible for both Japan and India to play a large role in the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, expressing her hope to further strengthen relations in a variety of areas including politics, and the economy. Moreover, she stated that she would like to once again express her appreciation for the economic cooperation that Japan provided to address the various priority issues of India.