India, Japan to cooperate on nuclear use, defence

India and Japan on Monday pledged to cooperate with each other on peaceful use of nuclear energy, defence sector and agreed to fight terrorism together.

The two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purpose.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived Japan on Monday on a three-day visit.

A joint statement on Vision for India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership in the Next Decade issued by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan here said the two leaders welcomed the commencement of negotiations on an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in June 2010.

They affirmed that cooperation in this sector will open up new opportunities for further developing the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership.

They encouraged their negotiators to arrive at a mutually satisfactory agreement for civil nuclear cooperation at an early date.

The two Prime Ministers decided to steadily expand security and defence cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Kan condemned terrorist attacks in and against India, such as the bomb blast in Pune on 13 February 2010 and in Kabul on 26 February 2010, in which Indians as well as other nationals were targeted.

They decided to enhance greater cooperation in combating terrorism through information-sharing and counter-terrorism training as well as utilizing the India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.

They recognized the urgent need to finalize and adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations and called upon all States to cooperate in resolving the outstanding issues expeditiously. Japan welcomed India?s membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and India appreciated Japan?s support towards this.

They aimed to cooperate to enhance their capacity in responding to security challenges such as maritime security which entails safety and freedom of navigation and counter-piracy, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response, inter alia, through bilateral and multilateral exercises, information sharing, training and dialogue.

In this context, they welcomed the launch of India-Japan Shipping Policy Forum and mutual exchange of schedules of escort operations by the Indian Navy and Japan Self-Defense Forces in the Gulf of Aden.

They instructed relevant authorities to realize the full potential of the Action Plan to advance Security Cooperation signed in 2009, based on the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between India and Japan.

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress made in 2010 on facilitation of trade in high technology between the two countries.

They asked the relevant authorities to maintain dialogue on high technology trade including respective export control systems and realize its full potential keeping in mind the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two nations also decided to simplify the procedure for all kinds of visa by signing a memorandum.

Later at a banquet hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister for Manmohan Singh, the latter said “as the Asian century unfolds, we must stand together in our determination to bring peace, stability and economic advancement to our respective peoples, to the region and to the world at large.”