TOKYO (PTI): At a time when China is flexing its muscles in the Asia-Pacific region, India and Japan on Wednesday welcomed the expanding bilateral defence ties and agreed to further cooperate on maritime issues to ensure freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce.
Terming Japan as a partner, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that at a time of global uncertainties, change and challenges, India and Japan are "natural and indispensable partners for advancing prosperity in our two countries and for a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions".
This was also reflected in the joint statement that was issued after the meeting between Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
"The two Prime Ministers reiterated the commitment of India and Japan to the freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce based on the principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," the statement said.
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