<span style="color: #222222;">India and Japan today resolved to expand their maritime cooperation and work together to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. This was stated in a joint  press statement issued after the Annual Defence Ministerial Meeting held in New Delhi between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Defence Minister of Japan  Itsunori Onodera. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The two Ministers recognised that the peace and stability of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean are crucial for ensuring the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides also exchanged views on the current security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including developments in the Korean Peninsula. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">They recognised that it is important for the two countries to further strengthen defence and security cooperation under the 'Japan-lndia Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The two sides also  reaffirmed that they have shared interests in expanding cooperation in the maritime security domain. </span><br />'' <br />