India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are set to hold talks with their Japanese counterparts, Defence Minister Kihara Minoru and Foreign Minister Kamikawa, on Tuesday.

The Indian Defence Ministry emphasised that a strengthened India-Japan defence partnership is essential for maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, especially given the current global climate.

The dialogue is expected to focus on expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in response to China's increasing military activities in the region.

The India-Japan '2+2' dialogue began in 2019 in India, with the second edition held in Japan in 2022. The ongoing discussions will further solidify the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Besides the '2+2' dialogue, separate bilateral meetings will take place, where the ministers will review existing cooperation and explore new initiatives, with discussions also covering regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Defence Ministry highlighted that India and Japan share a 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' founded on common values like democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

 Defence collaboration has emerged as a crucial aspect of the India-Japan partnership, with the current visit expected to deepen this cooperation further.