TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s and India’s international ministers on Thursday agreed to step up safety and financial cooperation as the 2 Asian international locations look to spice up their ties in the face of China’s growing influence in the region.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa instructed a joint information convention after talks along with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that they reaffirmed their countries would expand bilateral security cooperation, together with within the subject of protection tools and know-how transfers.

She additionally stated they agreed to search for prospects to increase their cooperation to new areas of area and cybersecurity.

Japan and India, members of the Quad grouping that also includes the United States and Australia, have quickly intensified bilateral ties amid shared concern about China’s more and more assertive financial and army actions within the area.

“India and Japan, as two major Indo-Pacific nations sharing values, history and interests, have an abiding stake in the peace, security, and prosperity of our region, and are ready to play a responsible role commensurate to the needs of our times,” stated Jaishankar, who’s on a three-day go to in Tokyo to fulfill with Japanese authorities and enterprise officers.

Noting quickly altering strategic relations and a worsening safety setting on the worldwide stage the place divisions and rivalry are deepening, Kamikawa stated Japan desires to work with India in resolving frequent points via dialogue and cooperation.

“Japan especially places importance on its relations with India, which has nurtured its own democracy and history and represents the Global South,” Kamikawa stated.

“In light of the increasingly severe security environment of today, we confirmed the need for our defense and security cooperation,” she stated.

The two ministers welcomed increasing joint army workout routines.

Jaishankar stated their international locations would work collectively to reinforce financial safety and provide chain resilience, and mentioned cooperation in areas resembling semiconductor, inexperienced know-how and digital transformation.

Story continues

Japan has additionally been supporting infrastructure growth in India, and Kamikawa reaffirmed Tokyo’s continued assist in high-speed rail tasks.

___

AP video journalist Ayaka McGill in Tokyo contributed to this report.