New Delhi: On Wednesday, the newly appointed external affairs minister S Jaishankar announced that “India and Japan have agreed to be in regular contact to take the ‘Modi-Abe vision’ forward.”

During a telephonic conversation with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Tuesday, both the external affair ministers agreed that India and Japan would hold maiden 2+2 (foreign and defence minister) level dialogue this year ahead of the annual summit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Kono who had made the call, extended his congratulations on the appointment of Jaishankar as the foreign minister and highlighted India’s role as a global power towards the realisation of free and open Indo-Pacific.

He further invited Jaishankar to the G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting in November. 

Jaishankar said that India hopes to further expand the scope of cooperation with Japan and expressed his gratitude for the congratulatory message.

In a recent agreement between India and Japan, both countries have agreed to help Sri Lanka to develop its Colombo Port. This deal and its terms are being seen as a counter to China’s signature regional belt and road initiative but, both the countries have denied such claims.