India, Japan hold inaugural dialogue on economic security, including strategic technology

New Delhi, November 28. India and Japan held their first round of Dialogue on Economic Security, including Strategic Trade and Technology, in Tokyo on November 27. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri co-chaired the Dialogue with Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Masataka Okano.

“The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on respective economic security policies, strengthen partnership for building industrial and technological resilience and promote collaboration in research and application of key technologies,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“Both sides underscored the need for closer collaboration to protect economic interests, and build resilient supply chains and critical infrastructure in identified sectors, by way of policy facilitation for business and academic partnership between relevant actors in India and Japan,” it stated. “They also explored ways to facilitate talent exchange and up-skilling in fields of common interest.”

The Dialogue, attended by stakeholder Ministries, departments and agencies from both governments, was announced during the India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial meeting held in New Delhi on August 20 this year.

According to the Ministry statement, during the talks, both sides agreed to bring concrete results through enhanced holistic collaboration in focus areas.

“They recognised the Dialogue as a significant and timely step to bring contemporary relevance to the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership,” it further stated.

According to another statement issued by the Ministry, the two sides covered topics related to economic security, supply chain resilience, and partnership in critical and emerging technologies during the course of the discussions.

“During the FS-Vice Ministerial Dialogue, they reviewed the entire spectrum of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, including political relations, defence and security, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties, besides discussing regional and international issues of common interest,” the Ministry stated.

During the course of his visit, Foreign Secretary Misri met with other senior functionaries of the Japanese government. During a meeting with Takehiko Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, he discussed economic and high technology cooperation.

He also held a meeting with Keiichi Ichikawa, Deputy Secretary General of National Security Secretariat and Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan to discuss the two countries’ security and economic partnership

In a separate meeting with Yoshimichi Terada, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Misri reviewed the cooperation between the two countries for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway (MAHSR) project.

The Foreign Secretary also interacted with Japanese policymakers and senior officials from key government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).