US, Japan boosting trilateral cooperation with India, S Korea

As part of their shared objectives of promoting peace and economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Japan today said they have decided to strengthen trilateral cooperation with countries like India, Australia and South Korea.
"To achieve our shared objectives of promoting peace and economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and around the globe, the US and Japan are strengthening trilateral cooperation with like-minded partners, including the Republic of Korea, Australia, and India," said a joint US-Japan statement.
The joint statement was issued after talks between the US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
Obama is currently on a four-nation trip to Asia, his fifth as president.

A fact sheet issued by the White House said, the US and Japan have a robust trilateral dialogue with India on a wide range of regional and global issues.
This includes cooperation in the area of maritime security in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, the development of an Indo-Pacific economic connectivity corridor among the countries in the region to enhance regional connectivity, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

"The sixth iteration of our trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in New Delhi early this summer," the fact sheet said.
It says the US and Japan are also actively engaged in promoting women's security and empowerment worldwide.

In India, the two countries are jointly supporting the UN Women Safe Cities Programme in New Delhi.
The Delhi initiative is a part of the UN Women's "Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women" global programme, which aims at preventing sexual violence in urban public spaces through strategic alliances with communities, service providers and safety officials while empowering women and girls, the fact sheet said.
Close US-Japan cooperation is essential in managing and responding to long-standing and emerging threats and challenges in Asia and around the world, the joint statement said adding that recent events underscore the importance of coordinated action to uphold regional and global rules and norms.

Among other issues, the US and Japan are working collaboratively to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, support Middle East peace efforts, contribute to Afghan reconstruction, and improve the situation in Syria, including through the disposal of its chemical stockpiles, it said.
"The United States and Japan recognise that China can play an important role in addressing all of these challenges, and both countries reaffirm their interest in building a productive and constructive relationship with China," the statement said.