Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, arrived in New Delhi on Friday to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting. The meeting will be hosted by India and will provide an opportunity for Foreign Ministers of Australia, Japan, the United States, and India to exchange views on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and other regional issues.
The meeting will be chaired by India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, and will be a continuation of discussions held at their last meeting in New York in September 2022. The Ministers will be guided by their vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
"A warm welcome to FM Yoshimasa Hayashi of Japan @MofaJapan_en to New Delhi for the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting being hosted by India today. An opportunity for Quad FMs to exchange views on recent developments in #IndoPacific & other regional issues," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
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According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministers will also review progress made by the Quad in pursuit of its constructive agenda and implementation of initiatives aimed at addressing contemporary priorities of the region.
Hayashi did not attend the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in India due to domestic parliamentary sessions. Instead, Deputy Foreign Minister Kenji Yamada represented Japan at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
The Quad, which comprises the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, has gained significance as a strategic forum in recent years due to its focus on the Indo-Pacific region. The group's meetings are aimed at advancing shared values and interests, including maritime security, connectivity, and infrastructure development.
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The participation of Japan's Foreign Minister in the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting is indicative of the country's continued engagement and commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting is expected to further strengthen the cooperation between the four countries and enhance their efforts towards a more stable, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
