India, Japan agree to play greater role in Indo-Pacific region

New Delhi [India], Feb. 13 (ANI): India and Japan have agreed that both sides can play an important role in peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking today at an event of ' Indo-Pacific Region: Converging India-Japan Interests', Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the two sides carry the responsibility to maintain peace and stability of the region as they do not believe in militarization. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares warm relations with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. "India and Japan are strongly committed to their shared values. Both are inclusive. India is not only looking East, it is acting East. All parts of India must be integrated," he said according Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Expressing New Delhi's trust on Tokyo, Rijiju said India wants to leverage Japanese expertise for development as anything made in Japan is synonymous with quality. Japanese ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu, also present on the occasion said that his country opposes any coercion and upholds freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region. He said that Tokyo is ready to play a greater role in the Indian Ocean, adding both sides share much in common including shared vision for Asia-Pacific. Hiramatsu said there is greater convergence between India, Japan and the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific, adding they can work together to maintain peace and stability of the region. (ANI)