8-Sep-2022: Press Statement by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh after India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Tokyo
“Minister Hayashi, Minister Hamada, Dr Jaishankar, Members of Press, ladies and gentlemen,
At the outset, I express my gratitude to our host Ministers, their delegations, and their staff for excellent interaction and their warm hospitality. I deeply appreciate their commitment to our bilateral relations.
During the course of our discussions today, we covered a wide spectrum of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. As two thriving democracies in Asia, we are pursuing a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. This year is significant for both India and Japan, as we are celebrating 70 years of establishment of our diplomatic relations. This is an important relationship for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
During today’s discussions, we noted the progress in the military to military cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. We shared a common desire to further increase the scope and complexities of our bilateral exercises. We have established staff talks and High-level dialogue between all the three Services and the Coast Guard. I am glad that we have now agreed on Staff Talks between the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces and the Integrated Defence Staff of India. The participation of Japan for the first time in the multilateral exercise MILAN and operationalization of the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement in March this year are milestones in the progress of defence cooperation between our Forces. We are happy to note that our Air Forces are working closely for early conduct of the inaugural Air Force fighter exercise.
Enhancing the Defence Equipment and Technological Cooperation between India and Japan is one of our key priority areas. In our meeting today, I had the opportunity to propose engagements in emerging and critical technological domains. I have also invited the Japanese defence companies to look at opportunities in investing in the Indian Defence Corridors.
We held extensive discussions on ways to enhance maritime cooperation including Maritime Domain Awareness. There is consensus on both sides that a strong India-Japan relationship is very important for a free, open, rule-based and inclusive Indo-Pacific based upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) shares many commonalities with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). India has also developed maritime cooperation with regional partners in consonance with our inclusive vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
India’s relationship with ASEAN has emerged as a key corner stone of our foreign policy. Through ADMM Plus, both India and Japan are working together with ASEAN and other Plus countries for strengthening cooperation across domains including maritime security, HADR, Peace Keeping Operations etc.
We had the opportunity today to share our views on important issues, regional and global, and concurred on the need for peaceful resolution of disputes in consonance with international law.
I once again thank Minister Hayashi & Minister Hamada for the extremely productive discussions today and for expressing their commitment towards furthering the India-Japan partnership.
1-Sep-2022: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addresses the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bali today.
Union Education and Skill Development Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan as a troika co-chair delivered the opening remarks at the G-20 Education Ministers’ Meeting and put forward interventions on the theme ‘Recovery, Re-imagine and Rebuild Stronger.’
He spoke about the importance of sharing mutual experiences & working together to create a new world in which education remains the nodal point for addressing common challenges.
He added that the National Education Policy 2020, based on the foundational principles of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability is India’s guiding light for promoting lifelong learning opportunities and achieving the shared vision of G20.
Shri Pradhan highlighted India’s rapid strides towards building a more resilient and inclusive education and skilling ecosystem and realising the creative potential of each learner through the implementation of NEP 2020.
He said that India is giving special emphasis on formalizing early childhood care & education, supporting differently-abled children, boosting digital and multi-modal learning, flexible entry-exit pathways, integrating education with skills, which are keys to improve learning outcomes.
He further said that India has operationalised virtual schools and is in the process of setting up Digital university & 260+ TV channels dedicated to education in multiple Indian languages to expand the realm of education and also for achieving the goal of making education equitable & accessible.
Shri Pradhan said that the NEP 2020 has paved the way for internationalisation of education in India and India is welcoming foreign universities to set campuses in GIFT City in Ahmedabad. We are also in the process to bring policy measures for allowing foreign universities to set up their campus across India.
Shri Pradhan underlined India’s commitment to work together with G20 member states to establish an education system where learning outcomes match 21st century skills. For education to be the driver of global growth, all efforts should be made to harness the full potential of our G20 EdWG, he further added.
He added that G20 Education Group has set an agenda that addresses the challenges & unprecedented changes that have taken place in global institutional framework. India remains committed to work with the G20 to strengthen education systems for rebuilding & recovering stronger together, he further added.
On the sidelines of the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting, Shri Pradhan held a series of bilateral meetings with HE Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, Singapore, HE Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and MoS for Entrepreneurship and SME, the UAE and H.E. Dr. Hamad M.H. Al Sheikh, Minister of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Discussions in the bilateral meetings centered around deepening engagements in education and skill development.
1-Sep-2022: Need to work together for stronger recovery and resilience across globe: Shri Bhupender Yadav at the G20 Joint Environment and Climate Ministers Meeting (JECMM) Bali
Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, attended the G20 Joint Environment and Climate Ministers Meeting (JECMM) held at Bali, Indonesia yesterday.
Speaking on the concluding day of the G20 meeting, the Union Minister underlined the need to work together for stronger recovery and resilience across globe, leaving no one behind especially most vulnerable sections of the society. He reminded that this is at the heart of the 2030 agenda of sustainable development.
Shri Yadav stated that sustainable recovery should also lead towards Sustainable Development Goals. In his address he stressed that while climate change is a global phenomenon, its negative impacts are more severely felt by the poor and vulnerable especially in the developing countries. There is high dependence on Natural resources but the capacity to cope with climate variability and extreme is limited. Climate change phenomenon is deeply unfair. Those who contributed least to it from developing countries will be most severely hit by the impact of Global warming. Any initiative to address the contemporary environmental challenge should therefore be on the basis of Equity and principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities & Respective Capabilities in the light of the national circumstances and priorities.
The Minister Yadav informed the gathering that India will assume the G20 Presidency from 1st December 2022 culminating in the G20 summit in 2023. As under the Indonesian Presidency, there shall be meetings side events, workshops, seminars, and site visits across different cities in India during G20 Presidency.
Shri Yadav told the gathering that while addressing the World Leaders Summit at COP 26 in November 2021, our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi gave a new mantra for sustainable development i.e. LiFE- Lifestyle For Environment. LiFE as a global movement is needed today to move away from mindless and destructive consumption to mindful and deliberate utilisation. India’s effort towards the clean energy and energy security low carbon and efficient industrial growth, sustainable agriculture and low carbon living affirm our commitment to a transformative shift towards sustainable lifestyle for all. We need to redefine prosperity to ensure affordable, servable and sustainable lifestyle for all. He concluded by emphasising that sustainability requires coordinated action for the global commons. India stands for a ‘whole of the world’ approach that recognizes the interdependence of countries, economies and communities.
In the end Shri Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change extended heartfelt and warm invitation to all the G 20 countries for the next Environment Deputies Meeting and Climate Sustainability Working Group related events during India’s G 20 Presidency.