Overview
- Foreign ministers Toshimitsu Motegi and S. Jaishankar met for about 30 minutes on October 27 on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur.
- Motegi said the two countries share core values and strategic interests and underscored their role in advancing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad.
- Tokyo outlined priorities to deliver steady results in security, economy, investment and innovation, as well as people-to-people exchanges to elevate the relationship.
- Jaishankar welcomed Motegi’s return to the post, called the partnership special, and signaled readiness to translate August leaders’ guidance into concrete steps for regional stability.
- No new agreements were announced, with both sides discussing regional issues and presenting the effort as sustained follow-through while Motegi’s broader ASEAN engagements also addressed North Korea’s threats and support for ASEAN-led initiatives.