NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga agreed at their first official conversation that the “economic architecture of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on resilient supply chains”. In this context, both leaders welcomed cooperation between India, Japan and other like-minded countries on developing alternate supply chains to China. 

 

Signalling momentum in Special Strategic & Global Partnership in the post Abe period Suga and Modi held a summit over telephone little over a week after the election of new Japanese PM. The two PMs emphasised that the economic architecture of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on resilient supply chains, and in this context, welcomed cooperation between India, Japan and other like-minded countries, according to a MEA statement. 

 

Coinciding with the Modi-Suga phone call, the senior officials of India-USA-Australia-Japan or Quad held a virtual meet and underscored the importance of enhancing the resilience of supply chains. The officials reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on shared values and principles and respect for international law, according to a MEA statement. The four discussed measures to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. 

 

India, Japan and Australia have stated that the initiative to build resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region could be launched later this year as they seek to reduce dependence on China following its hostile political and military conduct. The trio aims to create a free and transparent trade & investment environment.