Fumio Kishida, Japan's Prime Minister, arrived here on Monday morning to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties in a variety of areas, including defence and security, trade and investment, and high technology.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kishida are expected to discuss priorities for India's G20 presidency and Japan's G7 presidency.
During his visit, the Japanese prime minister is expected to unveil his plan for a "free and open Indo-Pacific," with a focus on India's growing importance in the region.The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific in the context of China's rising military assertiveness is also likely to be discussed in depth by Modi and Kishida.
The visit of Japan's Prime Minister is expected to last approximately 27 hours.In the afternoon, he is scheduled to present his 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace' at a leading think tank.
The plan is expected to emphasise India's importance in the Indo-Pacific region.Kishida stated last June at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that he would lay out the Indo-Pacific strategy next spring.
"I will lay out a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace' by next spring which will strengthen Japan's efforts to further promote the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, with an emphasis on providing patrol vessels and enhancing maritime law enforcement capabilities, as well as cyber security, digital and green initiatives, and economic security," he had said.
The plan is expected to detail Japan's policy and approach to the Indo-Pacific region.Almost all major powers have released their Indo-Pacific strategies in the last few years.
Japan has advocated for a free and open Indo-Pacific in order to preserve and strengthen the region's rules-based international order.