NEW DELHI (PTI): India and Japan on Monday agreed to build a strong relationship in defence and security as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

Highlighting that Japan is the first country he is visiting since assumption of office, Parrikar said this clearly conveys the importance India attaches to strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation.

He said that he would like to see a strong partnership with Japan in defence equipment and technology.

Abe said that he wants to build a strong relationship with India not only in economic field but also in defence and security field.

He said that a strong India-Japan partnership is not only in the national interest of the two countries but is also important for peace and security in the region, an official statement by the Ministry here said.

Parrikar, who is on a four-day visit to Japan, also held talks with his Japanese counterpart Gen. Nakatani and both chaired the Defence Ministerial Meeting.

The two Ministers briefed each other on the security environment surrounding each country and their respective defence policies.

They reviewed strategic developments relating to international security situation with emphasis on the inter-connected Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

"They were of the view that in the inter-connected Indo-Pacific region, India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership has a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region," the statement said.

Nakatani briefed on Japan's recent efforts related to his country's security.

The two ministers welcomed the progress made in bilateral defence exchanges following the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges in the field of defence during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in September last year.

They emphasized the need for further strengthening and elevating bilateral defence relations.