Friday, April 29 2005 22:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Opening a new chapter in their ties, India and Japan today (Apr 29, 2005) decided to launch a high-level strategic dialogue, upgrade economic links and enhance energy, security and defence cooperation.

After wide-ranging talks on a host of issues, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his visiting Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi signed a path-breaking joint statement outlining an updated vision of the India-Japan global partnership.

This has been worked out in the backdrop of steady development of bilateral relations in recent years and the far-reaching changes in the international situation, particularly in Asia.

The document captioned "India-Japan Partnership in the New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of India-Japan Global Partnership" lays down an eight-fold initiative envisaging enhanced and upgraded dialogue architecture, comprehensive economic engagement, enhanced security dialogue and initiatives in science and technology, cultural and academic fields, people to people contacts and cooperation in the UN and other international organisations.

Assistance in infrastructure sector

At the meeting between Manmohan Singh and Koizumi, it was agreed that Japan would provide assistance to India for large-scale projects in infrastructure sector, according to highly placed sources.

A major project they agreed to examine is a high-speed computerised freight train between Mumbai and Delhi and Delhi and Kolkata.

This will be part of the Railway Golden Quadrilateral which will run parallel to the existing Road Golden Quadrilateral.

Strategic dialogue

The strategic dialogue will be held between National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Yoriko Kawaguchi, Adviser to the Japanese PM and former Foreign Minister.

They will look at India-Japan bilateral relations from a "long term and strategic perspective" and evolve stronger coordination between the two countries on major international and regional issues, the statement said.

Both countries reiterated their support to each other for the permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council. They shared the view that it was important to take a decision on Security Council reform before the Summit meeting in September this year.

Both sides decided to strengthen their cooperation in this regard bilaterally and in the G-4 setting.

Singh and Koizumi agreed that the global partnership between the two countries reflected a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic and strategic interests, aspirations, objectives and concerns.

The two sides decided to hold annual Prime Minister-level meetings and regular ministerial level exchanges.

New oil and natural gas cooperation dialogue

It was decided to launch a new oil and natural gas cooperation dialogue between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The two sides will strengthen their cooperation in the areas of energy and environment, focussing in particular on energy security and energy efficiency.

They will also cooperate on improving Asian oil markets and increasing investments in Asian energy infrastructure.

Security challenges

Recognising the important roles India and Japan play in tackling regional as well as global security challenges, the two sides reaffirmed their desire to further develop dialogue and exchanges in security and defence fields.

This includes strengthening of service-to-service exchanges between the Defence establishments.

Towards ensuring the safety and security of international maritime traffic, the two leaders directed the Coast Guards and related agencies of both countries to work together on a sustained basis.

As part of this, there will be joint exercises against piracy as well as cooperation through means of information sharing and technical assistance.

In view of the importance of maritime security, they instructed the Indian Navy and the Maritime Self Defence Force of Japan to enhance cooperation. The India-Japan Joint Study Group, which is going to hold its first meeting in June this year, has been directed to submit its report within a year, focussing on measures required for a comprehensive expansion of trade in goods and services, investment flows and other areas of economic relations between the two countries. The group will also consider the feasibility of an India-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

Several measures have been identified for achieving a qualitative shift and major jump in the level of economic and commercial cooperation, including higher levels of investments in India by Japanese companies.