Post-Covid Convergences between India-Japan
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida visited India on a two-day visit from 19 March to 20 March 2022 for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit. The two countries over the years have developed themselves in multi-faceted domains of cooperation, especially in the gambit of ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.
This Summit aimed to focus on opportunities for India and Japan to strengthen their bilateral relations where they focused on regional and global issues of mutual interest and collaborations in the post-COVID world. Further, they also aimed at a greater goal of the partnership of peace, stability and prosperity in the region of the Indo-Pacific and beyond.[i] One has to understand that this year, India and Japan celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and so, this summit holds great importance.
Partnership in the Post-COVID World
For the last two years, the world has been reeling under the deadly Coronavirus Pandemic. Seeing the mayhem created by this deadly virus, both the leaders of India and Japan emphasised the need to globally contribute to combat COVID-19 and protect their citizens. Further, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Kishida aimed for Quad Vaccine Partnership to enhance equitable access to safe and effective vaccines in the region of Indo-Pacific and beyond. India also thanked Japan’s efforts in combatting COVID-19 and providing social protection.[ii] Japan also applauded India for their efforts and initiatives to fight the deadly virus, especially through India’s support in supplying medicines, and medical equipment and providing effective vaccination drive through the Vaccine Maitri initiative.[iii]
Another domain that the two countries laid focus on was the importance of tackling climate change and effective management of energy partnership. India and Japan aimed the launch the India-Japan Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) for greater cooperation for sustainable economic development and growth.[iv] The countries also agreed to focus on electric vehicles, storage systems like batteries, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar energy, green hydrogen, wind energy, energy efficiency and carbon recycling.
Environment Cooperation was yet another realm discussed in the Summit and India and Japan aimed at establishing a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).[v] They also welcomed the signing of the MoC for cooperation in decentralised domestic wastewater management and sustainable urban development. India and Japan also looked at the smart cities missions project which is taking place in Varanasi, Ahmedabad and Chennai. Japan appreciated India’s efforts in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).[vi]
In the domain of economic relations, both countries focused on ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’. Prime Minister Kishida announced a 5 trillion-yen ($42 billion) investment in India for the next five years.[vii] They also highlighted the steps taken by India to improve the business environment for Japanese investors in India and also help boost economic growth, development and ease of doing business. The leaders also spoke about the improvement of economic relations between the two countries, especially in the domain of urban infrastructure growth and development and the high-speed railway based on its bullet train technology.[viii]
Digital technologies were another area that has gained importance in the post COVID world. The focus of this domain is to enhance the Digital partnership between India and Japan along with strengthening the digital economy and digital transformation. Opportunities for IT India professionals and Japanese companies were discussed and collaborations were focused on the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. They also discussed the progress of the India-Japan fund of funds to mobilise funds for the emerging Indian start-ups. Both the countries also welcomed the steps taken to sign MoCs in the fields of Cybersecurity and ICT and India and Japan also aimed to strengthen the cyber engagement like 5G, Open RAN, Telecom, Network Security, and submarine cable systems and Quantum communications.[ix]
Regarding connectivity, both the countries aimed to work on greater collaborative methods in the Indo-Pacific along with looking at projects in Bangladesh, ASEAN and the Pacific Islands. India and Japan highlighted the Act East Forum for sustainable economic development in India’s North-eastern region and also welcomed the India-Japan Initiative for Sustainable Development of the North-eastern region of India which covered initiatives for strengthening the bamboo value chain in the region of northeast.
Way Ahead
The pressing issue discussed at the Summit was the Russia-Ukraine War as Russia has been aiming to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Japan having faced nuclear bomb attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a victim of nuclear bombings and so, Japan would like to make sure that the world doesn’t face yet another nuclear attack. Also, Russia is Japan’s immediate neighbour. Russia recently started military drills near the Kuril Islands, which could be a starting point for another conflict. This is indeed a source of worry for Japan. India is a friend of Russia and India could help solve issues between Japan and Russia in the future. Secondly, in the future, India and Japan must work in greater unison to tackle the issues that both the countries face about China and so, they must work closely to further strengthen the Quad and its initiatives in the Indi-Pacific. Also, in the post-COVID era, India and Japan must look at ways to tackle deadly viruses like the Coronavirus and jointly work and search for vaccines and medicines that would help their countries and other countries globally. Further, India and Japan both have been facing multiple issues on disasters and there is a need to look at disaster management initiatives and also work on sustainable development prospects for the future. Finally, the major economic investment made by Prime Minister Kishida is only going to change the scenario of growth and development and that would lay the path for more trade, commerce and import and export-oriented exchange. Also, these economic investments would pave the way for more infrastructural development like the setting up of smart urban cities.
Notes
[i] Ministry of External Affairs. 2022.” 14th India Japan Annual Summit”, March 17, 2022. https://www.mea.gov.in/pressreleases.htm?dtl/34979/14th+India+Japan+Annual+Summit+19+March+2022+New+Delhi
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] India, Japan launch clean energy partnership at 14th Annual Summit, Business Standard, March 20,2022.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/india-japan-launch-clean-energy-partnership-at-14th-annual-summit-122032000059_1.html#:~:text=(Photo%3A%20PTI)-,India%20and%20Japan%20on%20Saturday%20launched%20a%20Clean%20Energy%20Partnership,being%20held%20in%20New%20Delhi.
[v] India, Japan launch clean energy partnership, Livemint, March 20, 2022. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-japan-launch-clean-energy-partnership-11647734312885.html
[vi] Ibid.
[vii] Japan PM expected to announce $42-bn investment plan in India visit: Report, Livemint, March 19, 2022. https://www.livemint.com/economy/japan-pm-expected-to-announce-42-bn-investment-plan-in-india-visit-report-11647684816601.html
[viii] Ibid.
[ix] Ministry of External Affairs. 2022.” 14th India Japan Annual Summit”, March 17, 2022. https://www.mea.gov.in/pressreleases.htm?dtl/34979/14th+India+Japan+Annual+Summit+19+March+2022+New+Delhi
Pic Courtsey-Nicki Eliza at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
