Following
is the text of the Joint Press Statement on the India-Japan Annual Defence
Ministerial Dialogue, during the two day visit of the Defence Minister Shri
Arun Jaitley to Japan to attend the dialogue which was held from September 05,
2017:-
“The Defence Minister of India Shri Arun Jaitley is on a bilateral
visit to Japan at the invitation of the Defence Minister of Japan Mr Itsunori
Onodera from 05 to 06 September 2017. The two Ministers held the annual Defence
Ministerial Meeting on 05 September 2017 in Tokyo.
2. The
Ministers exchanged views and ideas with the aim to further strengthen defence
and security cooperation under the framework of the “Japan-lndia Special
Strategic and Global Partnership”. They expressed satisfaction at the continued
deepening and diversification of bilateral defence cooperation since the
signing of the bilateral Memorandum on Defence Co-operation and Exchanges in
September 2014 and the two Defence Framework agreements signed in December
2015.
3. The
Ministers exchanged views on the current security situation in the Indo-Pacific
region. They condemned in the strongest terms North Korea’s nuclear test of 03
September 2017, which is in violation of its international obligations and
commitments, including under relevant UNSC resolutions and called upon DPRK to
cease such action which adversely impacts peace and stability of the region and
beyond.
4. The
Ministers noted that regular interactions at all levels, in particular the
establishment of Staff Talks at the level of the three Services, have enhanced
mutual understanding. The Ministers underlined their intention to explore
opportunities for enhancing exchanges and decided to promote cooperation in the
following areas:-
(1)
Institutionalised Dialogue and Visits.
a. Annual
Defence Ministerial Meeting: The Defence Minister of Japan will visit lndia in
2018.
b. Welcoming
the visit by the Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy to Japan in 2016 and the
visit by the Chief of the Staff, Air Self Defence Force and Chief of Staff,
Ground Self-Defence Force to India in 2016 and 2017 respectively, both sides
agreed to organise the first visit of Japanese Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
Japan Self Defence Forces to India in the first half of 2018.
c. Scheduling
the 6th Defence Vice Minister/ Secretary level Defence Policy Dialogue and the
5th Vice Minister / Secretary level “2 +2” dialogue in India in 2018.
(2)
Exchanges between Japan Ground Self Defence Force and Indian Army.
The Ministers welcomed the progress in the Army to Army Staff talks
in November 2016 and agreed to develop active exchanges in the fields of PKO,
Counter-Terrorism and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), as
key areas of common interest for the two countries.
Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) would invite Indian Armed
Forces personnel to participate in the HADR exercise conducted by JGSDF as
Observers.
In the context of enhanced co-operation between the two ground
forces the Ministers decided to explore a joint field exercise in the field of
counter-terrorism between the Indian Army and the JGSDF in 2018.
(3)
Exchanges between Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and the Indian Navy.
The Ministers expressed satisfaction at the success of
Japan-India-US Trilateral Maritime Exercise MALABAR 2017 in July 2017 and
confirmed their intention to further deepen and advance the objectives of this
Exercise. Minister Onodera expressed his intention to have state-of-the-art
Japanese assets including P-1 to participate in the MALABAR 2018. Minister Jaitley
welcomed this proposal.
The Ministers noted the importance of bilateral training
interactions between Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force
(JMSDF). The two sides will consider inclusion of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
training to expand cooperation. In addition the ministers agreed to pursue
exchanges and training by ASW aviation units such as P-3C. The Japanese side
proposed to invite Indian Navy personnel to mine-countermeasures training held
by JMSDF.
(4)
Exchanges between Japan Air Self Defence Force and Indian Air Force.
The Ministers welcomed the participation of Vice Chief of Staff,
JASDF in “Aero India-2017” in February 2017. They also welcomed the visit of
Indian Air Force helicopter crews to JASDF’s Air Rescue Squadron in Hyakuri,
expanding bilateral air-to-air exchanges in the domains of aviation safety and
air crew exchanges.
The Ministers expressed their intention to seek further
opportunities to enhance cooperation by enabling visits of their aircraft to
each other’s air bases.
(5)
Education and Research exchanges.
The Ministers appreciated personnel exchanges between the two sides
by means of representation at defence educational and research institutions.
They expressed satisfaction over successful bilateral exchanges in UN Peace
Keeping involving the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping of India and the
Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Centre.
(6)
Cooperation in Defence Equipment and Technology.
The
Ministers endorsed the importance of enhancing interaction between governments
and defence industries of the two countries to encourage equipment
collaboration including defence and dual-use technologies. They commended the
progress made in discussions to identify specific areas of collaboration in the
field of defence equipment and technology cooperation including in the
framework of the Joint Working Group on Defence Equipment and Technology
Cooperation. They noted the effort made by both countries regarding the
cooperation on US-2 amphibious aircraft.
They
welcomed the constructive engagement between Acquisition, Technology and
Logistic Agency (ATLA) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
and agreed to commence the technical discussions for research collaboration in
the areas of Unmanned Ground Vehicles and Robotics.
The
Ministers commended the conduct of the first-ever meeting on defence industry
cooperation held by ATLA and Department of Defence Production (DDP) in Tokyo,
which witnessed significant participation of government entities and companies
of both countries. They expressed their expectation that this meeting will lead
both countries to future defence equipment and technology cooperation and
enhance interaction between governments and industries of both countries.
Minister Jaitley briefed about recent policy reforms in the defence
manufacturing sectors in India which offer opportunities for foreign industries
to play an active role.
Minister
Jaitley thanked Minister Onodera for the warm welcome and hospitality extended
to him and members of the Indian delegation during his visit to Japan.
Tokyo
05 September 2017”
NW/NAo/Nampi/Rajib