India holds first joint meeting with Japan, U.S.

The first trilateral talk between the U.S., India and Japan concluded in Washington with the countries exchanging their views on a wide range of regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“These discussions mark the beginning of a series of consultations among our three governments, who share common values and interests across the Asia-Pacific and the globe,” a joint statement issued by the three countries at the conclusion of the day-long meeting said.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell co-chaired the meeting.

“All sides welcomed the frank and comprehensive nature of the discussions, and agreed the talks help advance their shared values and interests,” the statement said.

The group agreed to meet again in Tokyo in 2012 to continue their deliberations.

Earlier in the day U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba stressed on the need to deepen their strategic partnership with India.

In an interview to PTI last week, Mr. Campbell had said that the three countries were slated to discuss a number of issues: larger and strategic development in Asia, trends, economic, military, strategic.