Japanese PM unveils new plan for free and open Indo-Pacific; calls India 'indispensable partner'

New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday unveiled his government's much-awaited plan for a free and open Indo-Pacific while projecting India as an "indispensable partner" to achieve the ambitious goal of peace, prosperity and stability in the region.

The plan that comes amid China's growing military muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific comprises four key pillars and seeks to enhance connectivity, foster the region into a place that values the rule of law and keep it free from "force or coercion".

Outlining a number of initiatives, Kishida said the Bay of Bengal-Northeast India industrial value chain concept will be promoted in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire region.