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.
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.