India and Japan have a long history of friendship based on spiritual affinity and significant cultural and civilizational ties. The 21st-century engagements between the two countries are relevant, historic, and vital for the region, global peace, and a rules-based international order.

The dialogue between Japan, the third biggest economic power and India, the third largest defence force, reiterates the Late Prime Minister Abe’s idea of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) – ‘Strong India-Japan relations are a global common good because they share common values of commitment to democracy, openness and rule of law.’ Engagements between Indian and Japanese scholars and think tanks in the emerging geo-political order are significant for their impact. In 2019, CPPR had organised an international conference on India-Japan relations, with support from 

the Consulate-General of Japan in Chennai, held in Kochi, Kerala, on the thematic area of ‘India and Japan: Growing Partnership and Opportunities for Cooperation.’ The key issues discussed were economic and security implications of Asia-Pacific transformation, India-Japan maritime visions in Asia Pacific and India-Japan Partnership in the Information Age, Trade and Investment.

Building on the success of the first conference, a second one named ‘Indo-Pacific: Vistas for India-Japan Relationship and Cooperation‘ was organised by CPPR and the Consulate-General of Japan, Chennai, on March 16th and 17th, 2023, in Kochi, Kerala. The second conference featured five sessions where scholars and invitees discussed issues spanning the Politico-Diplomatic-Economic-Strategic-Technological continuum and explored areas of cooperation between the two countries.

The book ‘Indo-Pacific Vistas for India-Japan Relationship and Cooperation’ compiles scholarly papers presented during the second conference, exploring the evolving dynamics between India and Japan within the Indo-Pacific region. It offers diverse perspectives on important issues concerning India and Japan’s cooperation, aiming to stimulate policy discussions and contribute to the ongoing dialogue between the two nations.

The views expressed are those of the authors.