Singh also emphasised on the need to expand the scope of partnership in defence equipment

India’s defence partnership with Japan will play a crucial role in ensuing free, open and rules-based Indo -Pacific region, Defence Minister Singh said after meeting Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada in Tokyo on Thursday.

The two ministers discussed regional issues as well as different elements of their bilateral defense cooperation.

"India and Japan pursue a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. India’s defence partnership with Japan will play a crucial role in ensuing free, open and rules-based Indo Pacific region," Defence Minister Singh tweeted after the meeting.

During the delegation-level talks, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that the growing complexities in the India-Japan bilateral defence exercises is a testimony to the deepening of defence cooperation between the two countries, India's Ministry of Defence said.

The ministers expressed their commitment in continuing bilateral and multilateral exercises including ‘Dharma Guardian’, ‘JIMEX’ and ‘Malabar’.

They welcomed the operationalisation of the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement during Exercise ‘MILAN’ in March this year. The two Ministers agreed that the early conduct of the inaugural fighter exercise will pave way for much greater cooperation and interoperability between the Air Forces of the two countries.

According to the defence ministry, Singh emphasised on the need to expand the scope of partnership in the field of Defence Equipment and Technological Cooperation. He invited Japanese industries to invest in India’s defence corridors where a conducive environment for the growth of the defence industry has been created by the Government of India.

This year marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan, which enjoy a Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

After reaching Tokyo on Wednesday night, Defence Minister Singh began his engagements by laying a wreath at a Memorial dedicated to the personnel of Japan Self Defense Forces who laid down their lives in the line of duty, at Ministry of Defense, Japan. He was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour before the bilateral meeting with the Japanese Defense Minister.

Later in the day, Singh, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, will participate in the second India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The Japanese side will be represented by Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The 2+2 Dialogue will review bilateral cooperation across domains and chart out the way forward.