Foreign Ministers explore collaboration in semiconductors, supply chains, and digital infrastructure
Reviewing the progress made in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership at the 15th India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi, India on July 27, 2023, the two sides discussed the scope of collaboration in critical and emerging technologies.

The dialogue was held between Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the ministers engaged in comprehensive discussions covering a wide range of issues of bilateral, regional, and global significance. They highlighted the importance of further strengthening India-Japan partnership based on shared values and principles, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.

The Ministers emphasized the importance of achieving the target of JPY 5 trillion Japanese investment in India in the period 2022-27. This investment is part of plans to reach a target of USD 35.9 billion Japanese investment in the country by 2027.

According to information provided by the MEA, the Ministers explored potential areas of collaboration in diverse productive areas including semiconductors, resilient supply chains, and digital public infrastructure, among others. India has made building a chipmaking sector a national priority as part of a self-reliance campaign.

The Ministers also expressed satisfaction at the strengthening defence and security cooperation, including regular exercises and staff talks between all three services. In this context, they discussed the way forward to deepen Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation, the MEA said.

Japan's new orientation offers opportunities for India in both the economic and military fields. India could gain from the Japanese efforts to shift high-tech industries away from China as well as the overall mood in the Indo-Pacific to establish secure and resilient supply chains.

The Ministers also discussed cooperation under multilateral and plurilateral frameworks, including the Quad. The Quad is committed to cooperation with partners in the region who share the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. They also agreed on the need for early reforms of the UNSC.

Noting the celebration of 2023 as the Year of India-Japan Tourism Exchanges with the theme of ‘Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji’, the Ministers acknowledged the importance of people-to-people exchanges. They also discussed ways to promote movement of skilled human resources from India to Japan.

Later in the day, the two ministers also spoke at the India-Japan Forum. In a tweet, EAM Jaishankar highlighted the following points made by him:

1. For India, Japan is the modernising inspiration that is particularly relevant as the Modi Government advances Atmanirbhar Bharat.

2. Japan has contributed to many revolutions in India. The Maruti and the Metro had an enormous ripple impact. And the high speed rail and emerging & critical technology will present many possibilities.

3. Our convergences happened as Japan was desirous of stepping out and India ready to Look and Act East. Our inclination to work together in third countries is an important aspect of our ties.

4. Indo and Pacific got separated in 1945. The natural seamlessness between the two oceans is becoming relevant today. In this context, Quad is an example of strategic imagination.

5. In resilient and reliable supply chains, trust and transparency, democratic values and market economy and addressing demographic challenges, we are natural partners.

6. Japan finds a lot of appeal in India, especially amongst the youth. More online interactions will set off a virtuous cycle in people to people exchanges.

The India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership was established in 2000, and since then, annual summit meetings have been held in respective capitals.

In December 2015, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid an official visit to India and had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two Prime Ministers resolved to transform the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership into a deep, broad-based, and action-oriented partnership, which reflects a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic, and strategic goals.

They announced the ‘Japan and India Vision 2025 Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region’.