Japan-India Relations
Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Video Teleconference Meeting
May 5, 2021
Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Video Teleconference Meeting
Japan-India Foreign Ministers’ Video Teleconference Meeting
On May 5, commencing at 2:35 p.m. (local time; May 5, 10:35 p.m. JST) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visitng the United Kingdom to attend the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting, held a video teleconference meeting with H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Welcoming the meeting held for the first time since the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in October last year, Minister Motegi stated that it is heartbreaking to see the situation such as the large number of deaths caused by the current surge of COVID-19 infections in India. Minister Motegi added that towards deepening the ”Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership” and realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” he looks forward to continue working with Minister Jaishankar. Minister Jaishankar responded by expressing his intention that he would like to further develop Japan-India relations in cooperation with Minister Motegi.
- The Ministers concurred that they would deepen their cooperation towards containing the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign Minster Motegi stated that Japan is ready to provide grant assistance of up to 50 million US dollars (approximately 5.5 billion yen) to India, based on the latter's needs, in addition to ventilators and oxygen concentrarots which was announced earlier, in response to the current surge of COVID-19 infections in India. Foreign Minister Jaishankar expressed his appreciation.
- The Ministers held a candid exchange of views on regional affairs. In this respect, Minister Motegi expressed serious concerns about unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, including China’s Coast Guard Law. Regarding the situation in Myanmar, the Ministers welcomed the outcome of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in April as a step towards improving the situation, and confirmed their intention to strongly urge that violence shall be ceased and to closely work together towards turning things around. Minister Motegi asked for understanding and cooperation towards the immediate resolution of the abductions issue by North Korea.