Japan to closely work with G20 chair India: Japanese FM

Russian invasion of Ukraine has put a great strain on global economy, including energy and food security, and Japan is keen to respond to challenges by working hand-in-hand with India, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Hayashi cited China's "unilateral attempts" to change status quo by force in East and South China as well as its military activities around Taiwan as region's challenges and concerns.

foreign minister said Japan's revised National Security Strategy views China's current external stance and military activities as an unprecedented and greatest strategic challenge in ensuring peace and stability of Japan and international community.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi also said that it is necessary to build a free and open international order that is inclusive and based on rule of law to maintain peace and stability in Indo-Pacific, a region that has seen mounting Chinese assertiveness.

He said as G7 President, Japan wishes to coordinate closely with G20 President India in dressing pressing global challenges.

"2023 is a crucial year as Japan chairs G7 and India chairs G20. As premier forum for international economic cooperation, G20 is of paramount importance for responding effectively to issues facing international community, such as food security and development," he said.

Japanese foreign minister said Qu or Qurilateral coalition is neir an initiative to counter something nor for military cooperation and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words that it is a "force for good".

Hayashi said given India's outstanding leership, including its hosting Voice of Global South Summit in January, coordination with New Delhi is now even more vital.

"Because of verse effect by Russian invasion of Ukraine, establishing access to affordable, safe and nutritious food as well as ensuring resilient food security has become an urgent priority," he said.

"Moreover, transparent and fair developmental finance has become essential for sustainable development of developing countries. re is ample room for cooperation between G7 and G20, especially in se areas," he ded.

Japan is current chair of powerful G7 grouping.

"Neverless, given that Russia continues its aggression in Ukraine and is a member of G20, we can no longer sustain cooperation in same ways as before invasion. We will explore how we can collaborate with such limitations in consultation with India," he said.

"Given India's outstanding leership, including its hosting Voice of Global South Summit in January, coordination with India is now even more vital. Japan looks forward to working hand in hand with India to le responses to global challenges," he said.

Japanese Foreign Minister noted that Russian invasion of Ukraine put a great strain on international economy and livelihoods of people all around world in various aspects, including energy and food.

"Given se circumstances, Japan is keen to discuss with India ways to respond to key issues such as food and energy security, with cooperation of international community," he said.

"In dition, leveraging existing economic ties, Japan will work with India bilaterally to respond to such challenges and consider ways of effective cooperation with middle to long-term perspectives," he said.

For instance, he said Japan wishes to utilise Japan-India Clean Energy Partnership, launched during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to India in March 2022 in order to realise carbon neutral and safe and stable supply of energy.

"New energy sources such as hydrogen and ammonia are also promising areas of cooperation," Hayashi said.

On China's increasing muscle flexing in region, foreign minister said Japan is finding itself in midst of "most severe" and complex security environment since end of WWII.

He said maintaining and strengning free and open international order based on rule of law has never been more important than now.

"Against this backdrop, Japan issued a new National Security Strategy.Vis-a-vis China, re are a number of challenges and concerns along with various opportunities, such as China's unilateral attempts to change status quo by force in East and South China Seas, including in waters surrounding Senkaku Islands," he said.

"This also includes a series of military activities by China around Taiwan, in particular launch of ballistic missiles into seas jacent to Japan which also includes its Exclusive Economic Zones," he said.

Hayashi said National Security Strategy revised late last year views China's current external stance and military activities as an "unprecedented and greatest strategic challenge" in ensuring peace and stability of Japan and international community, as well as strengning international order based on rule of law.

"It states that Japan should respond with comprehensive national power and in cooperation with its ally and like-minded countries," he said.

At same time, he said Japan and China have great responsibility towards peace and prosperity of region and world.

He said Japan will firmly maintain and assert our position and strongly requests responsible actions from China.

"At same time, both sides will make an effort to build a constructive and stable relationship by continuing dialogues, including at leers' level, and working toger on common challenges," he said.

On Indo-Pacific, Hayashi said it is necessary to build a free and open international order that is inclusive and based on rule of law in accordance with vision of 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)'.

" Qu is not an initiative to counter something nor for military cooperation; rar, to borrow Prime Minister Modi's words, it is a 'force for good.'" He said Qu member states have been working on a wide range of practical cooperation, including in health, infrastructure, climate change, maritime domain awareness and disaster response.

"I strongly believe that candid discussions among four countries, which share a common vision for future, including at leers and foreign ministers' level, will contribute to deepening of Japan-India relations as well," he said.

Replying to a question on overall India-Japan ties, Hayashi referred to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida's announcement last year about goal of 5 trillion yen public and private investment and financing from Japan to India in next five years.

"In order to achieve this goal, Japan is deepening economic bonds and encouraging Japanese companies to boost ir investment in India. Looking ahe, we will work with India on pressing issues such as clean energy and economic security by building on our existing economic ties," he said.

"India is world's biggest democracy, and Special Strategic Global Partner with whom Japan shares basic principles and strategic interests. Furr, this year is crucial as Japan chairs G7 and India chairs G20. Japan wishes to cooperate closely with India and contribute to international community," he ded. PTI MPB DV DV