Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Quad Summit on Saturday in Wilmington, Delaware. The two leaders reflected on their numerous interactions, particularly since their inaugural Annual Summit in March 2022.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Kishida for his steadfast commitment and leadership in advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership over the years, an official release from the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The discussions encompassed various aspects of the partnership, focusing on strengthening defense and security ties, as well as enhancing business-to-business (B2B) and people-to-people (P2P) collaborations. Prime Minister Modi took the opportunity to bid farewell to Prime Minister Kishida, wishing him success and fulfillment in his future endeavors, the MEA release added.

Fumio Kishida remarked that the Quad Leaders’ Summit taking place in Wilmington, Delaware, “could not have been better suited” for his last foreign visit as Prime Minister of Japan.

Kishida emphasized the efforts of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) during his tenure, recalling their last meeting, which was held in Japan’s Hiroshima. “It is a pleasure to gather with the leaders of the Quad at Joe’s alma mater to discuss the future of the Indo-Pacific. I express my gratitude for Joe’s friendship and leadership, which demonstrates your commitment to the Quad,” the Japanese Prime Minister said in his opening remarks at the summit.

“During my tenure, I have consistently emphasized the efforts of the Quad. Following our last meeting in Hiroshima, this meeting could not have been better suited for my final foreign visit as Prime Minister,” Kishida added.

He underscored the need for concrete actions by the Quad grouping, noting that the security environment has become increasingly severe.

“The security environment surrounding us has become increasingly severe, and a free and open international order based on the rule of law is under threat. In this context, it is ever more important for us and the Quad, which shares values such as freedom and democracy, to continue to demonstrate our firm commitment to our common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific to the international community”, Kishida said.