Eeshna Dashottar, Pune
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will be visiting the Republic of Korea and Japan from 5th to 8th March 2024, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. The visit is expected to strengthen the bilateral ties between the countries as the EAM will be engaging in high-level diplomatic deliberations covering various areas and issues.
As per the EAM’s itinerary for this visit, he will be visiting South Korea first on 5th March 2024. The event at focus for this visit is expected to be S Jaishankar co-chairing the 10th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Cho Tae-Yul. The JCM in South Korea is expected to be a beneficial step in forging strong ties and exploring future cooperation between the two nations in the areas of trade, investment, defense, education, science and technology, and culture. Discussion on regional and global issues of mutual interest is also anticipated. EAM Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet with Korean dignitaries, heads of think tanks and the members of the Indian community living in South Korea.
Following his visit to South Korea, the minister will be visiting Japan from 6th to 8th March 2024. Amongst the events and discussions he will be a part of during this visit, the most important one is the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue. The Foreign Minister of Japan, H.E. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa will be joining Dr. Jaishankar for this event. Amongst the topics for discussion in this event are the issues related to bilateral, regional and global importance. Exchange of views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific is also an expected outcome of this meeting.
India-Japan ties have stayed strong owing to the collaborative efforts of both countries in the last decade in the spheres of defense, digital technologies, semiconductor supply chains, clean energy, high-speed rail, industrial competitiveness and connectivity. The EAM’s visit to Tokyo is set on the hopes of further boosting of partnerships in these areas. Dr. Jaishankar will also be partaking in the Raisina Roundtable in Tokyo. The Roundtable is being viewed as a propelling factor in enhancing track 2 exchanges between India and Japan.
The visits to South Korea and Japan, who have been significant partners of India, will further forge stronger ties and build platforms for significant bilateral exchanges and future cooperation.