(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
I would like to speak about the Japan-India “2+2” and Japan-India Defence Ministerial Meeting. If circumstances permit, I will visit India to attend the Japan-India “2+2” (Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting) and Japan-India Defence Ministerial Meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday, August 20. This will be the first Japan-India “2+2” and Japan-India Defence Ministerial Meeting in around two years, since both the previous meetings were held in Tokyo in September 2022. Japan and India share fundamental values including democracy and the rule of law, as well as strategic interests, and India is an extremely important partner for Japan in the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” At the meeting, I will concretely discuss on unit-to-unit exchanges, defense equipment and technology cooperation, and other matters with a view to further advancing security and defense cooperation between Japan and India, while sharing our recognition of the regional situation.