India and Japan Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation in the Field of ICT - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India and Japan Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation in the Field of ICT.

India and Japan signed MoU to enhance cooperation in the field of Information and Communications Technologies today. MoU was signed by Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Japanese Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Takeda Ryota and it was exchanged through a video conference today.

Department of Telecom, Government of India and Ministry of Communications, Government of Japan will enhance mutual cooperation in the field of 5G technologies, telecom security, submarine optical fiber cable system to islands of India, spectrum management, smart cities, high altitude platform for broadband in unconnected areas, disaster management and public safety etc. It has been agreed that apart from Ministry level cooperation, Government of India organization such as C-DOT and ITI Limited along with industry partners from Japan will also part of this cooperation.

Speaking on this occasion the Union Minister for Communication, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted the timely execution of connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands with submarine optical fiber cable as a great example of cooperation between India and Japan. He further shared the rapid adoption of innovative digital technologies by India during COVID19 pandemic such as AarogyaSetu app, use of Aadhaar Enabled Payment System for doorstep disbursement of cash by India Post, digital hearings in Courts of India and rapid growth of digital payments. He further highlighted that during COVID19, due to attractive polices like PLI and SPECS large amount of investments have come to India in the field of electronics manufacturing. He urged the Japanese electronics industry to invest in India and avail the benefits of the new technologies. Minister further highlighted the great potential India holds for Japanese investors in the field of 5G and 5G based services, Internet of Things, digital health technologies etc.

The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India and Japan Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation in the Field of ICT.

India, Japan vow to deepen maritime ties - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Japan vow to deepen maritime ties.

The 5th Round of India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in Tokyo.

India and Japan have vowed to deepen maritime cooperation and also held consultations on disarmament, non-proliferation and export control.
The 5th Round of India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in Tokyo on Tuesday with the Indian delegation led by Indra Mani Pandey, Additional Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, while Japanese delegation was led by Ambassador Yamanaka A Osamu, Deputy Assistant Minister, Deputy Director-General in Foreign Policy Bureau.
The two sides exchanged views on various topics of mutual interest in maritime domain and identified the means for further strengthening their maritime cooperation, a Ministry of External Affairs statement said.
Both sides reiterated the importance of the dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on issues of mutual interest in maritime affairs and agreed to hold the next round of talks on a mutually convenient date in India, it said.
Meanwhile, the 8th Round of India-Japan bilateral consultations on disarmament, non-proliferation and export control was held in Tokyo on December 23.
The Indian side was led by Mr. Pandey, while Japanese delegation was headed by Ambassador Hisajima Naoto, Director-General, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the consultations, the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest in these fields, the MEA said. (Source: The Hindu)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Japan vow to deepen maritime ties.

Second two-plus-two dialogue on Dec 18, no update on Indo-Japan summit: MEA - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Second two-plus-two dialogue on Dec 18, no update on Indo-Japan summit: MEA.

On whether the India-Japan summit will take place in Guwahati from December 15-17, he said there was no update to share.

The second two-plus-two dialogue between India and the US will take place on December 18 in Washington during which the two sides will take stock of the entire gamut of strategic ties between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
The Indian side will be represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
On whether the India-Japan summit will take place in Guwahati from December 15-17, he said there was no update to share.
Asked to comment on the cancellation of Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen's visit and if it was a fallout of criticism of that country's treatment of minorities, he said, "We never said there was religious persecution in Bangladesh during the current government's tenure."
Referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's critical comments on the Citizen (Amendment) Bill, the spokesperson said Pakistan should focus on its treatment of minorities rather than commenting on India's internal matter.


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

Second two-plus-two dialogue on Dec 18, no update on Indo-Japan summit: MEA.

Cabinet approves Bilateral Swap Arrangement between India and Japan - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Cabinet approves Bilateral Swap Arrangement between India and Japan.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for entering into an Agreement for Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) between India and Japan and authorizing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to sign the Agreement for Bilateral Swap Arrangement between the RBI and the Bank of Japan for a maximum amount of USD 75 billion.

Salient Features:
The swap arrangement is an agreement between India and Japan to essentially exchange and re-exchange a maximum amount of USD 75 Billion for domestic currency, for the purpose of maintaining an appropriate level of balance of payments for meeting short-term deficiency in foreign exchange.
Benefits:
The BSA is a very good example of mutual cooperation between India and Japan for strategic objective of assisting each other in times of difficulty and for restoring international confidence. This facility will enable the agreed amount of Capital being available to India on tap for use. Also, with this arrangement in place, prospects of Indian companies would improve in tapping foreign capital as there would be greater confidence in stability of country’s exchange rate. Availability of such swap line to tide over difficulties arising out of Balance of Payment (BOP) would deter speculative attacks on the domestic currency and greatly enhance the RBI’s ability to manage exchange rate volatility.
The arrangement is another milestone in mutual economic cooperation and special strategic and global partnership between India and Japan. (Source:pib)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

Cabinet approves Bilateral Swap Arrangement between India and Japan.

India, Japan agree to hold 2+2 dialogue to enhance security in Indo-Pacific region - Pragnya IAS Academy - News analysis.

India, Japan agree to hold 2+2 dialogue to enhance security in Indo-Pacific region.

Giving a new dimension to India's Act East Policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe signed key agreements in areas ranging from high-speed railways to cyber security. Both leaders also agreed to hold 2+2 dialogue in order to strengthen regional security in Asia-Pacific.

Narendra Modi along with Shinzo Abe reviewed developments in bilateral relations and explored new areas of cooperation, focusing on shared vision for peace & prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. They also agreed to oppose protectionism in trade.
Both nations also signed currency swap agreement worth $75 billion. Swap agreement should aid in bringing greater stability to foreign exchange and capital market, both leaders stated.
Welcoming Narendra Modi to Japan, Shinzo Abe said the relationship between two countries will enter a new phase. He also hailed Narendra Modi's leadership, stating that his leadership not only helped India but also the entire Asian region.
Narendra Modi in his speech reiterated that the bilateral ties between India and Japan dates back to a time in history when both countries shared strong civilizational values.
He also underlined that 21st century belongs to Asia, which will be heralded by stronger ties between India-Japan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held delegation- level talks Monday during which the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Narendra Modi arrived in Japan Saturday to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, was given a guard of honour upon his arrival for the annual summit talks at the Kantei, the Prime Minister's Official Residence. (Source: The Economic Times)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Japan agree to hold 2+2 dialogue to enhance security in Indo-Pacific region.

India, Japan Begin Bilateral Maritime Exercises In Visakhapatnam - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Japan Begin Bilateral Maritime Exercises In Visakhapatnam.

JIMEX-18, a bilateral maritime exercise between India and Japan, began in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships Kaga, an Izumo-class helicopter destroyer, and Inazuma, a guided missile destroyer, arrived here to mark the commencement of JIMEX.

The Japanese ships would be participating in the third edition of JIMEX under the command of Rear Admiral Tatsuya Fukada, commander of Escort Flotilla-4 (CCF-4).
The Indian Navy would be represented by three indigenously-designed warships and a fleet tanker. The participating ships are INS Satpura, a multi-purpose stealth frigate, INS Kadmatt, an anti-submarine warfare corvette, missile corvette and INS Shakti, the fleet tanker.
In addition, one submarine, P8I long range maritime patrol aircraft and a number of integral helicopters would be participating in the exercise, the Navy said.
The nine-day event is aimed at enhancing inter-operability, improving understanding and imbibing the best practices of each other, a Navy release said.
The Indian ships would be commanded by Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet.
JIMEX-18 will comprise a harbour phase and a sea phase of four days each.
The harbour phase of the exercise, scheduled from October 7 to 10, would include professional and social interactions between ships' crews, sports fixtures and operational planning for the sea phase.
The sea phase would include anti-submarine warfare exercises, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills, gun firings, cross deck helo operations and coordinated operations in anti-submarine and anti-air threat scenarios.
The last edition of JIMEX was held in December 2013 off the Chennai coast.
The conduct of JIMEX-18 after five years is indicative of an upswing in the Indo-Japanese defence relations and the continued efforts of both governments to work closely to enhance safety and security of the global commons in keeping with 'rule-based order,' the Navy said.
The ships of the two Navies have been working in close coordination in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden (GoA) for the past few years.
JMSDF has been a regular participant in the Malabar series of exercises between Indian and US Navies.
JMSDF ships participated in the recently concluded MALABAR-18 off Guam (along with Indian and US Navy units) in the Pacific Ocean in June and biennial multilateral exercise RIMPAC-18 off Hawaii, USA, the Navy release added. (Source:defencenews.in)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Japan Begin Bilateral Maritime Exercises In Visakhapatnam.

India and Japan Hold 4th Round of Maritime Affairs Dialogue - Pragnya IAS Academy -News Analysis.

India and Japan Hold 4th Round of Maritime Affairs Dialogue.

India and Japan held the fourth round of Maritime Affairs Dialogue here during which key issues related to the Indo-Pacific region and maritime security were discussed, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.

The Indian delegation at the dialogue, held yesterday, was led by Pankaj Sharma, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) in the MEA, while the Japanese side was led by Ambassador Kansuke Nagaoka, Policy Planning and International Security Policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The two sides exchanged views on various topics of mutual interest including the Indo-Pacific region, maritime security, cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Search and Rescue (SAR) and discussed ways and means of further strengthening the bilateral cooperation in these areas," the MEA said in a statement.
The dialogue was followed by the seventh round of the India-Japan Bilateral Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control held here today.
The Indian delegation was led by Sharma, while the Japanese delegation was led by Ambassador Tomoyuki Yoshida, Director-General, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the consultations, the two sides exchanged views on a range of contemporary disarmament and non-proliferation related issues. Both sides reiterated the importance of these dialogues as important mechanisms between the two countries for consultations on strategic issues. India and Japan agreed to hold the next round of the dialogues on a mutually convenient date in Japan. (Source: India Today)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India and Japan Hold 4th Round of Maritime Affairs Dialogue.

EU & Japan sign biggest free trade deal - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

EU & Japan sign biggest free trade deal.

The European Union and Japan have signed one of the world's biggest free trade deals, covering nearly a third of the world's GDP. The agreement was signed in Tokyo yesterday. EU Council President Jean-Claude Juncker said, they are sending a clear message that both sides stand together against protectionism.
Mr Abe said, the agreement shows the world the unshaken political will of Japan and the EU to lead the world as the champions of free trade at a time when protectionism has spread.
The move contrasts sharply with actions by the US Trump administration, which has introduced steep import tariffs. Under the agreement, Japan will scrap almost all its tariffs on EU goods, particularly dairy items like cheese. The EU will also eliminate about 99 percent of its tariffs on Japanese goods, including removing levies on Japanese cars and scrapping tariffs on car parts.
The agreement must still be ratified by the EU parliament, as well as Japanese lawmakers, but is expected to enter into force from next year. (Source: NewsonAir)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

EU & Japan sign biggest free trade deal.

U.S.-Japan-India-Australia Quad: New Delhi charts new line on Indo-Pacific policy - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

U.S.-Japan-India-Australia Quad: New Delhi charts new line on Indo-Pacific policy.

India does not consider the newly re-established quadrilateral format of U.S.-Japan-India-Australia as a part of its “Indo-Pacific” region policy, says India’s Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran, who suggested that India would like to engage more closely with Russia in the Indo-Pacific region as well. The comments come a day a meeting of officials of the four countries, the “Quad”, ended in Singapore, and indicates that India’s maritime partnerships would not be restricted to the quad formation with the U.S. and its allies.

“The Quadrilateral format of U.S.-Japan-India-Australia is one of the many multilateral dialogues in the region, and not directed against any country. It is not part of the Indo-Pacific region concept outlined by Prime Minister Modi in Shangri-La,” Mr. Saran told the Russian TASS news agency in an interview made available by the Indian embassy.
“It is important that the Indo-Pacific Region (IPR) and Quad format are not confused with each other. The Indian view of IPR is positive — this is an open and inclusive arrangement which is not directed against any country nor intended to contain any country,” he added, referring to the general belief that the Quad arrangement came together in November 2017 in a joint effort to contain China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, and forays in India’s neighbourhood.M/p>
However, given improved relations with China in the last few months, and the Wuhan Summit where Mr. Modi travelled to China to meet President Xi Jinping, the government has been seen less active in promoting the Quad, also declining a request from Australia to join the ongoing Malabar naval exercises with the other three Quad members.
On June 7, at the end of the second Quad meeting, attended by joint secretary-level officials, all four countries issued separate but similar statements. Amongst the divergences were lines committing the Quad to “safeguarding and strengthening” the Indo-Pacific region that were issued by the U.S., Australia and Japan, while the phrase was absent in the Indian statement. India also spoke of its Indo-Pacific policy in “plurilateral formats,” which the others didn’t.
Referring to Mr. Modi’s speech at the Shangri-La dialogue June 1 as well as what he called the “historic” informal summit with President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Mr. Saran said that “expanding (the) partnership with Russia is an integral part of our Indo-Pacific policy... Prime Minister (Modi) also noted that the maturity of India’s special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia was a measure of India’s strategic autonomy.”
Mr. Saran will soon take charge as Deputy National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister’s office in New Delhi, making his remarks particularly significant, as is the timing, just ahead of Mr. Modi’s visit to Qingdao in China to attend the SCO summit where he will have meetings with both Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin. (Source: The Hindu)

The above Article can also be read using the link below:

U.S.-Japan-India-Australia Quad: New Delhi charts new line on Indo-Pacific policy.

9th India-Japan Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi; both countries agree to work together for energy security, energy access and climate change issues - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis

9th India-Japan Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi; both countries agree to work together for energy security, energy access and climate change issues.

Both countries agree to initiate the discussion on Electric Vehicles (EVs) and commit to work together in promoting well-functioning energy markets.

The 9th India Japan Energy Dialogue was held in New Delhi, today. Minister of State(IC) for Power and New &Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Mr. Hiroshige Sekosigned a Joint Statement at the conclusion of the meeting.
Both Japan and India, as the third and the seventh largest economies respectively, recognized that having access to reliable, clean and economical energy is critical for their economic growth and in achieving this, both Ministers agreed on further strengthening of bilateral energy cooperation for energy development of both countries, while also contributing to worldwide energy security, energy access and climate change issues.
Both India and Japan with a view to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the aegis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognized the importance of development and deployment of next generation technologies including hydrogen to realize de-carbonization.
Both India and Japan appreciated the relevance of the grid stability given the high penetration of variable renewable energy. Both countries agreed to initiate the discussion towards development of Electric Vehicles (EVs) by collaborating with "Policy dialogue on next generation/Zero emission vehicles".
Both India and Japan reiterated the continued importance of coal-based electricity generation in the energy mix in both the countries and also agreed to promote the cooperation on environmental measures for coal-fired power plants.
Both India and Japan further confirmed their commitment to work together in promoting well-functioning energy markets and affirmed to promote transparent and diversified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market through the relaxation of destination clause. (Source: PIB)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

9th India-Japan Energy Dialogue held in New Delhi; both countries agree to work together for energy security, energy access and climate change issues.

India and Japan commit to Indo-Pacific strategy - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis

India and Japan commit to Indo-Pacific strategy.

Countries exchange loan agreements worth $1.4 billion India is Japan’s “most important” partner in its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, as both countries agreed to step up cooperation in their “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” during annual consultations and exchanged yen loan agreements for $1.4 billion.

“Our Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and India’s Act East Policy should be further merged,” said Mr. Kono, in remarks that appeared to target China’s actions in the South China Sea.
“Our growing convergence on economic and strategic issues is important for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Ms. Swaraj and Mr. Kono discussed a wide range of bilateral issues during the 9th India-Japan Strategic dialogue in Tokyo, while setting the agenda for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan for the annual summit with PM Shinzo Abe.
They also witnessed the exchange of documents for loans from Japan to India for projects including the Mumbai metro line from Cuffe Parade, a sea water desalinisation plant and a intelligent transport system to reduce traffic congestion in Chennai, tree-planting schemes in Himachal Pradesh as well as loans for the North East connectivity project.(Source: The Hindu)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India and Japan commit to Indo-Pacific strategy.

Counter to China's OBOR? India, US, Japan, Australia mull joint infra plan Pragnya IAS Academy News Analysis

Counter to China's OBOR? India, US, Japan, Australia mull joint infra plan

HIGHLIGHTS
• The four countries are in talks to establish a joint regional infrastructure scheme as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• However, the plan is still "nascent" and "won’t be ripe enough to be announced" in the immediate future, an official said.
Senior officials from the US, Japan, India and Australia are discussing establishing a joint infrastructure plan, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, amid reports it could act as a counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The officials have discussed “a range of opportunities and challenges,” Bishop said in a Sky News interview on Monday. “There is an enormous need for infrastructure, particularly in our region.”
While not identifying President Xi Jinping’s plan to build or upgrade a network of highways, railways, ports and pipelines, Bishop said that any new “infrastructure initiative need not be at the expense of any other initiative.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to discuss the idea when he visits Washington this week for talks with President Donald Trump, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday, citing a senior US official it didn’t identify.
The plan was nascent and no announcement was imminent, the newspaper cited the official as saying.
Senior foreign affairs officials from the four nations met in November “to discuss a shared vision for increased prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific region and to work together to ensure it remains free and open,” according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (Source: The Business Standard).


The above article can also be read using the link below:

Counter to China's OBOR? India, US, Japan, Australia mull joint infra plan