Tokyo: India and Japan have held discussions to strengthen bilateral cooperation in disaster risk reduction and disaster resilience, reflecting the growing depth of the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

India’s Ambassador-designate to Japan, Nagma Mallick, called on Japan’s State Minister for Disaster Management, Akama Jiro, on Monday. The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration in disaster preparedness, risk mitigation, and resilience-building.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Japan said the two sides discussed ways to further deepen India-Japan cooperation in disaster management, an area of increasing importance amid rising climate-related risks.

Earlier, on December 18, Mallick met Japan’s Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Kiuchi Minoru, where discussions covered multiple aspects of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, including economic and policy cooperation.

The ambassador-designate also held talks with Yasutoshi Nishimura, Member of Japan’s House of Representatives and Chairman of the Japan–India Parliamentary Friendship Group. According to the Indian Embassy, the meeting focused on issues of mutual interest and measures to strengthen parliamentary and strategic engagement between the two countries.

On December 15, Mallick met Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, and reviewed key dimensions of India-Japan bilateral relations. 

Growing momentum in India-Japan ties

At the leadership level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi on November 23, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. The leaders discussed ways to accelerate cooperation in areas such as innovation, defence, talent mobility, and trade.

In a post on X following the meeting, PM Modi said the talks focused on adding momentum to bilateral cooperation and strengthening economic ties, noting that a robust India-Japan partnership is essential for global stability and sustainable development.

India-Japan relations were elevated to a Global Partnership in 2000, upgraded to a Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and further strengthened as a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. The defence and security partnership remains a core pillar of bilateral ties, alongside cooperation in disaster management, economic engagement, and regional stability.

IANS