Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed with his Australian and Indian counterparts on Tuesday to cooperate in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision former leader Shinzo Abe advocated.

Kishida reached the agreements during separate meetings with Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi ahead of the state funeral for Abe in Tokyo, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

In the meeting with Modi, part of which was open to the media, Kishida said Japan will further develop diplomatic achievements made by Abe and continue cooperating with India to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Modi said bilateral ties have reached a "new height" after expanding in many areas under the administration of Abe, with whom he had built a personal relationship.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet at the State Guest House in Tokyo on Sept. 27, 2022. (Pool photo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Modi also expressed his heartfelt condolences over Abe's death.

Kishida and Modi exchanged views on Russia's war on Ukraine and affirmed the importance of peacefully resolving conflicts, the ministry said.

The two leaders also attached importance to "transparent and fair" development finance for sustainable development of poorer countries, in an apparent reference to China's "debt-trap diplomacy" policy, in which Beijing has been criticized for using debt as leverage to gain concessions from borrowing nations.

In a separate meeting, Kishida and Albanese pledged to further deepen security relations between Japan and Australia, according to the ministry.

Albanese, who is on a second visit to Japan since he took office in late May, said Abe's death was a "tragic loss" for Australia as well.

Three former Australian prime ministers -- John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull -- also joined the talks later, with the incumbent and past leaders looking back on Abe's accomplishments while agreeing to further promote bilateral relations in line with his wishes, according to the ministry.

Japan, India and Australia compose the Quad, a four-way grouping also involving the United States. They have been stepping up cooperation in various fields such as defense and energy amid China's increasing military and economic clout in the region.

Ahead of the state funeral, Kishida held met separately with European Council President Charles Michel and leaders of countries such as Singapore, Jordan and Papua New Guinea on the second day of Japan's "condolence diplomacy."

Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead by a gunman during an election campaign speech in Nara, western Japan, on July 8.

Kishida swiftly decided to host a state funeral for Abe and touted his political achievements, triggering mounting opposition to the ceremony due to its ballooning cost, among other complaints.

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