Japan has asked India to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). It also hopes that a free trade agreement between the two countries would be finalised by the time Prime Minister Manohan Singh visits Tokyo by the year-end.
While Tokyo understood the need for India to diversify its sources of energy, it wanted to be sure that the India-U.S. nuclear deal would not undermine the non-proliferation regime, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura told newspersons at the end of the second strategic dialogue with his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee here on Tuesday.
Mr. Mukherjee responded, saying the nuclear deal was limited only to peaceful energy programme. “We would also like to have access to nuclear technology with the cooperation of the international community. We are fully aware of Japan’s sensitivity and reiterate our firm commitment to total nuclear disarmament and strictly adhere to the conditionalities of non-proliferation as enshrined in various international treaties.”
He said: “Though India has not signed the NPT our commitment with respect to nuclear trade is impeccable,” he added.
Other senior diplomats said Japan intended to “actively participate” at the NSG meeting in a manner that would not hamper but strengthen the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
Meeting a day before the 63rd anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two Ministers decided to further step up cooperation in the field of security and continue high level exchanges and bilateral consultation.
On the security front, Japan expected a greater resolution to work together during Dr. Singh’s visit. And as was the case last year, it was willing to participate in the India-U.S. joint naval exercises, the Japanese Minister said. Free trade agreement
In his meetings with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, Mr. Koumora touched upon the need to hasten the free trade agreement (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement - CEPA) and expressed satisfaction that the increase in bilateral trade was on track to touch the targeted figure of $20 billion by 2010.
The two sides also touched on the progress made in the dedicated freight corridor in which an investment of $80 to 100 billion from Japan is anticipated. Japan is hoping that India would opt for electrified traction for “environmental reasons.”
While Tokyo understood the need for India to diversify its sources of energy, it wanted to be sure that the India-U.S. nuclear deal would not undermine the non-proliferation regime, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura told newspersons at the end of the second strategic dialogue with his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee here on Tuesday.
Mr. Mukherjee responded, saying the nuclear deal was limited only to peaceful energy programme. “We would also like to have access to nuclear technology with the cooperation of the international community. We are fully aware of Japan’s sensitivity and reiterate our firm commitment to total nuclear disarmament and strictly adhere to the conditionalities of non-proliferation as enshrined in various international treaties.”
He said: “Though India has not signed the NPT our commitment with respect to nuclear trade is impeccable,” he added.
Other senior diplomats said Japan intended to “actively participate” at the NSG meeting in a manner that would not hamper but strengthen the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
Meeting a day before the 63rd anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the two Ministers decided to further step up cooperation in the field of security and continue high level exchanges and bilateral consultation.
On the security front, Japan expected a greater resolution to work together during Dr. Singh’s visit. And as was the case last year, it was willing to participate in the India-U.S. joint naval exercises, the Japanese Minister said. Free trade agreement
In his meetings with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, Mr. Koumora touched upon the need to hasten the free trade agreement (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement - CEPA) and expressed satisfaction that the increase in bilateral trade was on track to touch the targeted figure of $20 billion by 2010.
The two sides also touched on the progress made in the dedicated freight corridor in which an investment of $80 to 100 billion from Japan is anticipated. Japan is hoping that India would opt for electrified traction for “environmental reasons.”
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