Press Releases
Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
November 22, 2021
On November 22nd, commencing at 3:50 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi stated that he would like to work with Minister Jaishankar to further develop the “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership,” mentioning the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India in the coming year, 2022. In response, Minister Jaishankar congratulated Minister Hayashi on his appointment as Foreign Minister and expressed that he would also like to work with Minister Hayashi to further strengthen the relationship between Japan and India.
- The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations and confirmed that resuming both leaders’ annual mutual visits is of particular importance, affirming to work together for the early realization of Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to India at an appropriate timing. Both ministers also confirmed that the two countries would coordinate to hold the next round of Japan-India 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting. In addition to wide-ranging security cooperation including in the new fields such as cyber, space and economic security, the two ministers also discussed economic cooperation in areas such as climate change countermeasures, digital and healthcare. They also decided to continue the efforts to steadily advance the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, which is the Japan-India flagship project.
- The two ministers affirmed to work closely toward the realization of a shared view of “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” through bilateral cooperation and quadrilateral cooperation involving Australia and the U.S.
- The two ministers discussed regional situations and shared their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea and South China Sea and any economic coercion, while confirming that the two countries would deepen cooperation on economic security such as through establishing resilient supply chains. The two ministers also discussed the situation in North Korea including its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and Minister Hayashi asked for understanding and support on the abduction issue. Furthermore, the two ministers decided to promote further cooperation in regional situations such as Myanmar and Afghanistan, in tackling global challenges such as measures against COVID-19 and counter terrorism, in the levels of international areas such as disarmament and non-proliferation as well as UN Security Council reform.