Japan, India leaders affirm importance of free, open Indo-Pacific

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday affirmed the growing importance of working together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region in phone talks, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.The leaders agreed to step up cooperation bilaterally as well as with the United States and Australia, the ministry said. The countries make up the so-called Quad, a group of major democracies that have been strengthening security ties as a counter to China's increasing influence in the regionDuring the 40-minute conversation, the ministry said Suga expressed concern …READ FULL ARTICLE