Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday held a telephonic conversation with PM Modi and wished for Indias early recovery from the current spread of Covid-19, a press release issued by the Japanese foreign ministry stated. 

The two leaders concurred that they would work in closer cooperation towards containing the pandemic, the press note added.

"The two leaders confirmed the importance of Japan-India bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation, including Japan-Australia-India-US quadrilateral cooperation, towards realising a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. They also shared the view to continue their effort on building a rules-based free and open international order. Prime Minister Suga stated that he hopes to further develop cooperation in areas such as cyber, digital, decarbonization, health care and connectivity, and also mentioned possible collaboration in such fields as 5G, submarine cables, strengthening of industrial competitiveness, diversification of supply chain, development of Indias North Eastern Region and the Specified Skilled Worker system.The two leaders welcomed the steady progress on the high-speed rail project including the 12th Joint Committee Meeting on the Project for the Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, and affirmed their intention to keep advancing Japan-India cooperation in various fields. Prime Minister Suga expressed serious concerns about Chinas continued and strengthened unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, including the Coast Guard Law. In closing, the two leaders shared the view to realize Prime Minister Sugas visit to India at a mutually convenient timing while taking into account the Covid-19 situation," the statement read.