NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Japan Takeshi Iwaya in Washington D.C. on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump. This was their second meeting, after the one on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Italy.

They utilized the meeting to take stock of salient issues in bilateral cooperation, including in the political, security, economic, technological and people-to-people domains. They expressed satisfaction at the level, range and pace of exchanges between the two countries. 

They agreed to maintain strategic communication through frequent dialogue, including Strategic Dialogue and the 2+2 Dialogue of Foreign and Defence Ministers. In this context, EAM extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Iwaya to visit India.

On the 40th anniversary of the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding between India and Japan on Science & Technology cooperation in 1985, the Ministers declared 2025-26 as the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Ministers also welcomed efforts to enhance people-to-people exchanges, especially in areas of technology, skills, and education.

The meeting reinforced the enduring friendship between India and Japan based on mutual trust, shared values, and commitment to regional stability.