 "Manmohan Singh (right) and Japan's Premier Shinzo Abe")
India and Japan on Saturday vowed to expedite talks for a civil nuclear agreement, while agreeing to increase bilateral trade in goods and services under the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).
At a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, both sides decided on "an early conclusion of the agreement" and "recognised that nuclear safety is a priority for both governments", said a joint statement issued here.
Abe, on a three-day visit to India, urged enhancement of two-way trade in goods and services under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, in force since 2010. "It has taken me many years to come back to this country as prime minister. It is not that only India requires Japan; Japan also requires India. Together, a strong India and a strong Japan can do wonders," he said.
Formal negotiations for a civil nuclear deal with Japan started in Tokyo in June 2010; these were followed by two consecutive rounds in October 2010 (Delhi) and November 2010 (Tokyo). However, India slowed the pace of negotiations in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. The last round of talks was held in November 2013.
Japanese energy companies are eagerly waiting a nuclear deal with India, as they see huge potential in helping India build nuclear plants. In this regard, Japanese companies will compete with US and French suppliers. Both sides have lauded the progress of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, which involves $90-billion investment by the Japanese government. The two countries also decided to extend cooperation in creating more such economic corridors.
On cooperation in the field of defence, it was agreed India's defence minister would visit Japan this year. Recently, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera had visited India to discuss, among other issues, the purchase of Utility Seaplane Mark 2 (US - 2) amphibious aircraft for Indian navy.
"Our negotiations towards an agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy have gained momentum in the last few months. Our joint working group on US-2 amphibious aircraft has met to explore the modalities of cooperation on its use and co-production in India. More broadly, we are working towards increasing cooperation in the area of advanced technologies. I reviewed with Prime Minister Abe the current status of these transformative projects and shared my expectations with him," said Prime Minister Singh.
Lauding the recently conducted joint naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in December 2013 off the coast of Chennai, both sides decided to conduct similar exercises in the Pacific Ocean this year.
Singh also invited JMSDF to take part in the Malabar maritime exercises.
Earlier in the day, Abe called on President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "The Japanese prime minister said there was steady progress in the strategic and global partnership between the two countries. Cooperation between the defence forces of the two countries will contribute to peace and security of the entire region," said a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Abe, the first Japanese prime minister to be the chief guest at the Republic Day functions, assured continuing assistance in terms of funding projects in India through Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It was also agreed cooperation in the energy sector in South Asia would be enhanced. Also, the feasibility of increasing both overland as well as sea-route connectivity will be studied.
Addressing a joint meeting of business chambers organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, Abe said Japan would like to tap human resources from India and expand cooperation in the field of skill development.
