Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Thursday highlighted the strong defence cooperation between India and Japan, citing timely assistance provided by the Indian Navy during a medical emergency involving a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel as an example of the two countries helping each other in times of need, news agency IANS reported.

Speaking during a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, Koizumi thanked his Indian counterpart for his condolences to those affected by the earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture.