Japan and India are in the final stages of negotiations to establish a consultative framework involving their foreign and defense ministers with the aim of reaching a formal agreement at upcoming summit talks on Sept. 1, a Japanese government source said Thursday.

The launch, if agreed at a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi,in Tokyo, would be the fifth of its kind for Japan under the "two-plus-two" dialogue mechanism, following those with the United States, Australia, Russia and France.

Japan is eager to strengthen security ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific, as China's influence is growing.