Bangkok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on November 4 agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in third countries at a meeting here to review the evolving security scenario in the Indo-Pacific.

This move came at a meeting on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit during which China’s fast expanding military and economic expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region figured prominently among several other key issues, officials said.

Without giving specific details of the talks, External Affairs Ministry Dr S Jaishankar said the two prime ministers reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region based on a rules-based order.

They agreed to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation, including in third countries, for achieving the shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress of the Indo-Pacific region, a statement said.

The resolve by Modi and Abe to work towards a stable Indo-Pacific came in the midst of rising disquiet among several member countries of the 10-nation ASEAN over China’s increasing assertiveness in maritime limits in the region.

The ministry said the two leaders also deliberated on inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ Indo-Japan foreign and defence ministerial dialogue later this month in India, noting that it will help provide impetus to the security and defence cooperation between the two sides.

Modi said that he eagerly looked forward to welcoming the Japanese Prime Minister next month for the annual India-Japan summit.

In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Modi and Abe prepared the ground for India-Japan two-plus-two dialogue and the annual summit in their good discussion.

Modi also said that he was convinced of the success of the forthcoming annual summit in further deepening the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership, according to the MEA.

It was the third meeting between Modi and Abe in the last four months. Their previous meeting was in Vladivostok in Russia in September.

The leaders welcomed the increasing economic engagement between the two countries, propelled by high-level exchanges. They also reviewed the progress on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project and reaffirmed their commitment to advance mutual efforts to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project, the MEA said.

It said Modi also congratulated his counterpart on the recent coronation of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, while Abe warmly recalled the participation of President Ram Nath Kovind in the ceremony.