Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will be in the Indian capital from January 7-9 to discuss a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and strengthening maritime security.
In talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Kono will pitch the idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific promoted by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
From India, Kono would travel to France where he will hold talks with the foreign and defence ministers on January 11.
Kono and Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya and their French counterparts Jean-Yves Le Drian and Florence Parly will take part in the forthcoming dialogue, the Japanese government said on Friday.
The agendas for the fifth “two plus two” meeting between the countries may include maritime security issues amid China’s growing maritime assertiveness. Previous security talks were held in January this year.
Japan plans to draw in France into its Indo-Pacific quadrilateral dialogue with India, Australia and the US.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian during his visit to New Delhi earlier this month had shared the French perspective on regional and global issues and discussed strengthening of ties in maritime security.
During the visit of French Defence Minister, Florence Parly to India in October this year India and France had decided to expand information sharing and explore operational cooperation between the two navies.
Before arriving in Paris, Kono will be in Nepal to exchange views on infrastructure development with Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali.
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