India, Japan to Synergize 'Indo-Pacific Strategy' and 'Act East Policy'

India and Japan have reaffirmed their common desire to build on the strong foundations of bilateral cooperation and exchanges in order to forge a mutually beneficial relationship.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India and Japan have agreed to synergize Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy" and India's "Act East Policy" and to work together towards a common goal of a free and open sea as well as the stability and prosperity of the region.

The agreement was concluded during the fifth India-Japan 2+2 vice-ministerial level talks.

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The two sides discussed maritime security, counter-terrorism, and peacekeeping operations apart from regional and international issues of mutual interest during the talks.

"Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of India-Japan relations and discussed issues having an overlapping foreign policy and security dimensions of India-Japan cooperation and consultations," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The countries also discussed regional issues such as East Asia including the issue of North Korea, as well as the emerging geopolitical scenario in South Asia as a whole.

Through this dialogue, a fundamental understanding was reached that, under the current geopolitical situation Japan-India cooperation is becoming increasingly indispensable.

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The meeting was co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Defense Secretary Sanjay Mitra along with Takeo Mori, Japan's Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ro Manabe, Vice-Minister of Defense for International Affairs.