India, Japan highlight importance of strengthening bilateral energy cooperation

India and Japan on Wednesday highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries.

In a joint statement issued here after delegation-level talks, Prime Ministers Shinto Abe and Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed satisfaction with the successful outcomes of the 5th and 6th India-JapanEnergy Dialogue and shared the importance of strengthening energy cooperation including in areas of renewable energy and energy conservation, Clean Coal Technologies (CCT), institutional issues as well as transmission and distribution system in power sector.

Confirming expansion of LNG cooperation through the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference, both leaders welcomed the progress of a joint study on pricing of LNG, the result of which will be reported at the conference.

According to the joint statement, Prime Minister Singh expressed interest in India cooperating with Japan in extracting natural gas from methane hydrate deposits under the sea.

Both reaffirmed the importance of India-Japan Energy Forum to be held in India in September 2013 by JETRO, NEDO and TERI, including an exhibition to showcase Japanese technology in energy sector.

Both leaders also appreciated the steady progress made in enhancing trade in high technology for mutual benefit and directed their relevant organizations to bring the dialogue in this field to a successful outcome.

The joint statement further said that the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries, while recognizing that nuclear safety is a priority for both governments.

In this context, they directed their officials to accelerate the negotiations of an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy towards an early conclusion.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum between the Department of Atomic Energy of India and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan on cooperation in rare earths industry in India. The two Prime Ministers shared the view that the commencement of commercial production of rare earths by Indian and Japanese enterprises should take place at the earliest.

The two Prime Ministers noted the importance of cooperation in the field of science and technology for development of national economies and improvement of socio-economic standards of life.

They welcomed the progress made under Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of India on Co-operation in the Field of Science and Technology and noted with satisfaction the implementation of various science and technology activities.

They also welcomed the steps being taken by both sides to further enhance science and technology cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology of India and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress made so far in information and communications technology (ICT) and electronics sectors, including Ministerial level interaction resulting in creation of Japan Help Desk for facilitating cooperation in Electronic system Design and Manufacturing. They shared the common view to further enhance business tie-ups in private sectors and cooperation in cyber security as well as promotion of joint research and development and bilateral cooperation in international standardization in the information and communications technology.

Prime Minister Singh expressed hope to further enhance opportunities for Japanese industries in Electronic System Design and Manufacturing and Telecommunications in India and business opportunities for Indian ICT companies in Japan.