Obama, Modi express desire for stronger ties with Japan

As reported in 'The Japan News' : 11:00 pm, October 01, 2014 WASHINGTON (Jiji Press) — U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at their first meeting on Tuesday, agreed that the two countries will strengthen their partnership with Japan. In a statement adopted at the White House meeting, the two leaders said they “underlined the importance of their trilateral dialogue with Japan.” They also said they will consider arranging a meeting of the three countries’ foreign ministers. Obama and Modi also agreed to “strengthen and deepen” the U.S.-Indian relationship. The statement said Obama “recognized that India’s rise as a friend and partner is in the United States’ interest.” They reaffirmed the two countries’ “shared interest” in preserving peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, conditions critical to the region’s continued prosperity. Obama and Modi called on all relevant countries to work on solving territorial and maritime disputes “through all peaceful means,” in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.