As countries throw out Huawei, India & Japan sign pact on 5G – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The 13th India-Japan foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue on Wednesday saw the two sides finalising the text of a cyber security agreement that promotes cooperation in 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) apart from security and resilience in the areas of Critical Information Infrastructure.
While details of the cooperation on 5G technology are not clear yet, the agreement is still significant coming as it does in the middle of the international backlash against China’s telecom major Huawei and as Japanese companies prepare to roll out 5G services ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
According to a statement by the MEA, recognising the increasing role being played by digital technologies, India and Japan highlighted the need for “robust and resilient” digital and cyber systems.
In the meeting, foreign ministers S Jaishankar and Toshimitsu Motegi also emphasised that a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region must be premised on diversified and resilient supply chains. In this context, said the government in a statement, they welcomed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative between India, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries.
In a tweet, Jaishankar said further expansion of India-Japan collaboration in third countries with focus on development projects also figured in the dialogue.
Reaffirming the similarities in their respective Indo-Pacific visions that are based on rule of law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the government, Japan agreed to be the lead partner in the connectivity pillar of the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and jointly take both countries’ respective visions for the Indo-Pacific forward.
Proposed by PM Narendra Modi last year, the IPOI is said to be an India-backed framework aimed at making meaningful efforts to create a safe and secure maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific.
“The two ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed that the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries will play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the MEA.
“Reaffirming the mutual trust and shared values, they reviewed the progress made in India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and discussed convergence in various areas, including maritime security, trade and investment, manufacturing, skill development, connectivity and infrastructure, health and wellness, IPOI and UN Reforms,”’ it added.