[Title] Video Message by Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan for Raisina Tokyo

Distinguished guests, including Dr. Saran, President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF); Mr. Maeda, Managing Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Japan Bank for International Cooperation; Mr. Niinami, Chairman of Keizai Doyukai; and all esteemed participants,

Good afternoon. I am Takeshi Iwaya, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

On the occasion of "Raisina Tokyo" convention, I would like to extend my sincere greetings and express my appreciation for your attendance.

First, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the victims and grieving families of the terrorist attack that occurred in Kashmir on April 22. I also extend my heartfelt sympathies to those who were injured.

Terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances. Japan unequivocally condemns all forms of terrorism. In this regard, we welcome the recent agreement between India and Pakistan to stop all firing and military action.

I have spoken with both H.E. Dr. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, and H.E. Mr. Dar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, to convey the need for all concerned parties to take responsible actions for peace and stability in South Asia.

Japan remains firmly committed to contributing to the peace and stability of the region.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizing institutions—ORF, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Keizai Doyukai—for their dedicated efforts in making it possible to convene "Raisina Tokyo" once again this year, following the success of last year's event.

This year's conference will feature in-depth discussions over the course of two days on a wide array of pressing global issues, including security, economic cooperation, and green energy.

Japan and India continue to deepen their collaboration across a broad spectrum of areas, including security, economic partnership, and people-to-people exchanges. Recently, we have also initiated concrete discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of economic security.

India, as a leading voice of the Global South and a nation with which Japan shares fundamental values, is an indispensable strategic partner. I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring that Japan and India work hand in hand to lead the international community toward prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and to address global challenges.

In conclusion, the advancement of Japan-India relations—which encompass a wide range of cooperative endeavors—requires not only intergovernmental collaboration but also robust partnerships among industry, government, and academia. I sincerely hope that the discussions held at this year's "Raisina Tokyo" will serve to further strengthen the bonds between our two nations.

Thank you very much.