Indo-Japan Relations

Zebra

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Working to inject Japan-like efficiency in PMO: PM Narendra Modi

NDTV, Published on Sep 1, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today regaled business leaders in Tokyo with his attempts to "replicate Japan-like efficiency" in his office and the government. He also announced a special team under the Prime Minister's Office to facilitate Japanese investments in India. "We have initiated the Japanese form of management in the Prime Minister's Office," Mr Modi said, addressing Indian and Japanese business leaders at a luncheon.
 
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Blackwater

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Re: India, Japan agree to take forward defence exchanges

Anybody tel me which defence deal gonna seal with japan apart from sea plane
 

nrupatunga

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Rediff uvacha

Modimagic: Japan pledges aid of Rs 2 lakh crore : Here's some of the takeaway from PM Modi's trip to Japan.

-- Japan to invest $35billion (in public and private investment in India over a period of five years to finance projects including infrastructure and building of smart cities. Some of this fund will be used for the Ganga rejuvenation project.

-- No civil nuclear deal with Japan, but negotiations to continue. :tsk:

-- Japan to provide financial and technical support for bullet trains.

-- No deal on purchase of US2 amphibian craft.

-- Japan to remove six of Indias space and defence-related entities from Japan's Foreign End User List. :thumb:
 

Zebra

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Rediff uvacha

Modimagic: Japan pledges aid of Rs 2 lakh crore : Here's some of the takeaway from PM Modi's trip to Japan.

-- Japan to invest $35billion (in public and private investment in India over a period of five years to finance projects including infrastructure and building of smart cities. Some of this fund will be used for the Ganga rejuvenation project.

-- No civil nuclear deal with Japan, but negotiations to continue.

-- Japan to provide financial and technical support for bullet trains.

-- No deal on purchase of US2 amphibian craft.

-- Japan to remove six of Indias space and defence-related entities from Japan's Foreign End User List.

Modi, Abe direct officials to accelerate civil nuclear deal | The Indian Express
 

nrupatunga

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MEA Sttement::Tokyo Declaration for India - Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership
1) Meeting in Tokyo on 1 September 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to realize the full potential of India - Japan Strategic and Global Partnership for continuing progress and prosperity for their people and for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world. Elevating the relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership, they called their meeting the dawn of a new era in India - Japan relations.

2) Prime Minister Abe expressed his deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi's choice of Japan as his first destination for a bilateral visit outside India's immediate neighbourhood. Prime Minister Modi described this decision as a reflection of Japan's importance in India's foreign policy and economic development and her place at the heart of India's Look East Policy. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Abe for his deep personal commitment to strengthening India - Japan strategic partnership, the extraordinary warmth of his hospitality, and the bold vision that characterized their discussions in Tokyo today.

3) The two Prime Ministers noted that India and Japan are Asia's two largest and oldest democracies, with ancient cultural links and enduring goodwill between their people. The two countries are joined together by convergent global interests, critical maritime inter-connection and growing international responsibilities. They share an abiding commitment to peace and stability, international rule of law and open global trade regime. Their economies have vast complementarities that create boundless opportunities for mutually beneficial economic partnership.

4) The two Prime Ministers observed that the relationship between the two countries draw strength and vitality from the exceptional consensus on the importance and potential of this relationship across the political spectrum, the business community and people in all walks of life in the two countries.

5) The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress of individual cooperation programmes and projects enumerated in the Factsheet and directed the respective relevant authorities to further advance cooperation in a mutually satisfactory manner.

Political, Defence and Security Partnership

6) The two Prime Ministers decided to continue the practice of annual summits and to meet as often as possible on the margins of regional and multilateral meetings.

7) Recognizing the special quality of bilateral engagement between India and Japan imparted by multi-sectoral ministerial and Cabinet-level dialogues, in particular, those between their Foreign Ministers, Defence Ministers and Ministers dealing with finance, economy, trade and energy, the two Prime Ministers decided to intensify and invigorate such exchanges. In this regard, they welcomed that the next rounds of Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue and Defence Ministers dialogue would be held in 2014. They attached importance to the dialogue between their National Security Advisors, launched earlier this year soon after the creation of the National Security Secretariat in Japan, as a key instrument of building deeper mutual understanding and cooperation across the full range of security issues. They underlined the importance of the 2 plus 2 dialogue, involving Foreign and Defence Secretaries, for their growing strategic partnership, and decided to seek ways to intensify this dialogue.

8) The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of defence relations between India and Japan in their strategic partnership and decided to upgrade and strengthen them. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defence during the visit. In this context, they attached importance to the regularization of bilateral maritime exercises as well as to Japan's continued participation in India - US Malabar series of exercises. They also welcomed the existing dialogue mechanism and joint exercises between Indian and Japanese Coast Guards.

9) Prime Minister Modi welcomed the recent developments in Japan's policy on transfer of defence equipment and technology. The two Prime Ministers expressed the hope that this would usher in a new era of cooperation in defence equipment and technology. They recognized the enormous future potential for transfer and collaborative projects in defence equipment and technology between the two countries. They welcomed progress made in discussions in the Joint Working Group on cooperation in US-2 amphibian aircraft and its technology, and directed their officials to accelerate their discussions. They also directed their officials to launch working-level consultations between the two countries with a view to promoting defence equipment and technology cooperation.

10) The two Prime Ministers recognized their wide-ranging shared interests in security of maritime and cyber domains, and decided to work with each other and with like-minded partners to preserve the integrity and inviolability of these global commons. They affirmed their shared commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation and overflight, civil aviation safety, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

Global Partnership for Peace and Security in the Region and the World

11) The two Prime Ministers affirmed their shared belief that at a time of growing turmoil, tensions and transitions in the world, a closer and stronger strategic partnership between India and Japan is indispensable for a prosperous future for their two countries and for advancing peace, stability and prosperity in the world, in particular, in the inter-connected Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions. Prime Minister Abe briefed Prime Minister Modi on Japan's policy of "Proactive Contribution to Peace" and Japan's Cabinet Decision on development of seamless security legislation. Prime Minister Modi supported Japan's initiative to contribute to peace and stability of the region and the world.

12) The two Prime Ministers decided, in particular, to draw on the strength of their two countries' shared values, convergent interests, and complementary skills and resources to build a strong partnership to promote economic and social development, capacity-building and infrastructure development in other interested countries and regions.

13) The two Prime Ministers affirmed their intention to engage with other countries in the region and beyond to address the region's challenges, deepen regional cooperation and integration, strengthen regional economic and security forums and promote peaceful resolution of disputes. They underscored the importance of closer consultation and coordination between India and Japan in regional forums, including the East Asia Summit processes and forums. They expressed satisfaction with progress in official level trilateral dialogue among India, Japan and the United States and expressed the hope that this would lead to concrete and demonstrable projects to advance their shared interests and that of other partners. They decided to explore holding this dialogue among their Foreign Ministers. They will also explore the possibility of expanding, at an appropriate time, their consultations to other countries in the region.

14) The two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of their perpetrators, origin and motivations. They emphasised that the evolving character of terrorism called for stronger international partnership in combating terrorism, including through increased sharing of information and intelligence. They shared concern over deteriorating security situation in various countries, and affirmed, in this regard, the importance of elimination of terrorist safe havens and infrastructure. They also called for reinvigorating multilateral action on terrorism, including through the finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations at the earliest.

15) The two Prime Ministers expressed concern over North Korea's continued development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, including its uranium enrichment activities. They urged North Korea to take concrete actions towards denuclearization and other goals as well as to fully comply with its international obligations, including under all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and its commitments under the 2005 Six-Party Talks Joint Statement. They also urged North Korea to address, at the earliest, the humanitarian concerns of the international community, including the abductions issue.

16) The two Prime Ministers stressed their shared interests, including with respect to energy security, in a stable and peaceful Middle East, West Asia and the Gulf regions. They expressed their deep concern over continuing turmoil and instability in the region, from diverse sources of conflict, which has had tragic and devastating impact on countries and people in the region. Ending the region's conflicts, combating terrorism and resolving outstanding issues, they shared, was of paramount importance, not just for the people of the region, but also to the world. They welcomed negotiations between P5+1 and Iran over the Iranian nuclear issue and urged all parties to show political will and seek common ground while accommodating differences.

17) The two Prime Ministers affirmed their shared determination, and called for sustained international commitment to promote Afghan-led economic development, political pluralism and capacity-building in security in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to help it become a united, independent, sovereign, stable and democratic nation free from terrorism, extremism and external interference.

18) The two Prime Ministers affirmed the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, especially its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make it more representative, legitimate, effective and responsive to the realities of the 21st century. They called for concrete outcome in this direction by the 70th anniversary of the UN in 2015 and decided to enhance efforts bilaterally and under the G-4 to realize this. In this regard, they decided to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and outreach with other member states. They also highlighted the outcome of the third round of India-Japan consultations on UN issues held in Tokyo in July 2014.

Civil Nuclear Energy, Non-proliferation and Export Control

19) The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries and welcomed the significant progress in negotiations on the Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. They directed their officials to further accelerate the negotiations with a view to concluding the Agreement at an early date, and strengthen the two countries' partnership in non-proliferation and nuclear safety.

20) Prime Minister Abe commended India's efforts in the field of non-proliferation including the affirmation that goods and technologies transferred from Japan would not be used for delivery systems for WMD. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the decision of the Government of Japan to remove six of India's space and defence-related entities from Japan's Foreign End User List. They looked forward to enhanced trade and collaboration in high technology.

21) The two Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to work together for India to become a full member in the four international export control regimes: Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group, with the aim of strengthening the international non-proliferation efforts.:thumb::thumb:

Partnership for Prosperity

22) Prime Minister Abe affirmed a broader and stronger Japanese partnership for Prime Minister Modi's bold and ambitious vision for accelerating inclusive development in India, particularly by transforming the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation for Japan's continuous support for India's economic development and stated that no country has done more for modernizing India's infrastructure than Japan.

23) The two Prime Ministers announced the India–Japan Investment Promotion Partnership under which:
a) The two Prime Ministers decided to set a target of doubling Japan's foreign direct investment and the number of Japanese companies in India within five years as an objective to be jointly achieved. They also decided to work closely towards further expanding bilateral trade relationship to the next stage.
b) Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to realize 3.5 trillion yen of public and private investment and financing from Japan, including Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), to India in five years, to finance appropriate public and private projects of mutual interest including in the areas of next generation infrastructure, connectivity, transport systems, Smart Cities, rejuvenation of Ganga and other rivers, manufacturing, clean energy, skill development, water security, food processing and agro industry, agricultural cold chain, and rural development. In this connection, Prime Minister Abe pledged ODA loan of 50 billion yen to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) for a public-private partnership infrastructure project in India.
c) The two Prime Ministers welcomed the public-private initiatives between the two countries to set up Electronics Industrial Parks in India. They also shared the intention to develop "Japan Industrial Townships" and other industrial townships with investment incentives for companies would not be lower than under the prevailing policy framework such as Special Economic Zone (SEZ), National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ).
d) The two Prime Ministers directed their officials to work out an appropriate mix of financing mechanisms, including public-private partnership, and terms for utilization of public funds, taking into account the nature of the projects, developmental priorities, procurement policies, level of industrial and technological capacities and skills available locally. They decided to explore ways to enhance Japanese and Indian participation in appropriate infrastructure projects in India.
e) Prime Minister Modi underlined his determination to further improve the business environment in India, including through tax, administrative and financial regulations, in order to boost investment. The two Prime Ministers decided to further deepen bilateral economic and financial cooperation. Prime Minister Abe welcomed the approval to establish Mizuho Bank's Ahmedabad branch.

24) The two Prime Ministers placed special emphasis on Japan's cooperation for enhanced connectivity and development in Northeast India and linking the region to other economic corridors in India and to Southeast Asia, which would catalyse economic development and increase prosperity in the region.

25) Prime Minister Modi briefed Prime Minister Abe on his initiative for Smart Cities and renewal of heritage cities, including the city of Varanasi. Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan's willingness to support this objective. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the document to promote partnership city arrangement between the ancient cities of Varanasi and Kyoto.

26) Lauding Prime Minister Modi's vision for development of world class infrastructure in India, including High Speed Railway system, Prime Minister Abe expressed his hope that India could introduce Shinkansen system for the Ahmedabad – Mumbai route. Prime Minister Abe expressed his readiness to provide financial, technical and operational support to introduce Shinkansen system, for which Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation. The two Prime Ministers look forward to the completion of the Joint Feasibility Study on High Speed Railway system on Ahmedabad – Mumbai route.

27) The two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress in the ongoing flagship projects of India-Japan economic partnership, such as the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) and committed to accelerate their implementation. Prime Minister Modi invited Japanese investments in the development of new smart cities and industrial parks along these corridors. Appreciating Japan's contribution to the development of urban mass rapid transport system in India, Prime Minister Modi sought Japan's association with Ahmedabad Metro Project. Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan's willingness to support the project in a mutually beneficial manner.

28) Recognising the critical dependence of their economies on imported energy sources and their vulnerability to supply shocks, the two Prime Ministers affirmed their intention to further strengthen energy cooperation through the India–Japan Energy Dialogue. They shared the intention that India and Japan would explore a higher level of strategic collaboration in the global oil and natural gas market, including through joint procurement of LNG, upstream development of oil and gas, and joint efforts to promote flexible LNG markets, including through relaxation of destination clauses. The two Prime Ministers also welcomed enhanced cooperation on utilizing highly efficient and environmentally-friendly coal-fired power generation technology and progress on cooperation in Clean Coal Technology (CCT).

29) The two Prime Ministers welcomed substantial agreement on a commercial contract for manufacturing and supply of rare earth chlorides from India to Japan and affirmed their strong resolution for the finalization of commercial contract as well as the commencement of commercial production at the earliest.

30) The two Prime Ministers affirmed the commitment of both counties to actively engage in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and to make RCEP a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement. They decided to cooperate further towards conclusion of RCEP negotiations.

Exploring Science, Inspiring Innovation, Developing Technology, Connecting People

31) The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the recent productive Ministerial discussions in the fields of education, culture, sports, and science & technology, and recognized that the two Governments can truly harness the full potential of their relationship by seizing the vast opportunities for collaborating in science & technology, innovation, education, skill development, health, and information and communications technology to create new opportunities for their talented people, transform lives and address global challenges.

32) The two Prime Ministers decided to spur cooperation, in particular, in the cutting-edge fields such as life sciences including stem cell research, material science, cognitive science, applied mathematics, computing and information science, ocean technology and ocean observations, clean and renewable energy, water technology, climate change science and outer space. They recognized the importance to launch joint laboratories in India and Japan. They welcomed the growing collaboration between their research agencies and laboratories, and attached priority to expanding research exchanges, in particular, between their young scientists and students.

33) The two Prime Ministers acknowledged that the richness of the relationship between the two countries came from the long-standing wealth of goodwill and warmth between their people, and expressed their determination to further enhance people to people contacts and promote mutual understanding. In this connection, they welcomed growing cooperation in tourism, youth exchanges, educational collaboration, and cultural exchanges including the cultural activities which will be held under the Festival of India in Japan.

34) Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Modi's Digital India initiative. The two Prime Ministers affirmed the importance of collaboration in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) through ICT Comprehensive Cooperation Framework.

35) Prime Minister Abe invited India to participate in the 'Sport for Tomorrow' programme. Prime Minister Modi welcomed this proposal. The two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the growing educational and research partnership, including in humanities and social sciences - from the revival of Nalanda University, the ancient seat of learning, to addressing tomorrow's challenges through the establishment of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), and the Indian Institute of Informational Technology, Design and Manufacturing in Jabalpur (IIITDM-J), cutting-edge institutions of the 21st century. They decided to make efforts to substantially increase the number of exchange students between India and Japan as well as to enhance Japanese language education in India.

36) The two Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of cooperation in the field of healthcare. They appreciated the growing cooperation in the field of women empowerment. Prime Minister Abe briefed Prime Minister Modi on his efforts to create a 'society in which all women shine'. Sharing the view of Prime Minister Abe, Prime Minister Modi stressed the need to recognise the power of women and their important role in nation-building and the development journey of a country.

Leading for the future

37) Conscious that from time immemorial whenever Indians and Japanese have come together, they have struck a deep chord in each other; recognizing the importance of their countries' success; grateful to previous leaders for their invaluable contribution in building this relationship; aware of their enormous responsibility to lead at a moment of great opportunities and challenges, the two Prime Ministers decided to create a relationship that will shape the course of their countries and the character of this region and the world in this century.

38) Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality of Prime Minister Abe and the Government and people of Japan.

39) Prime Minister Abe accepted Prime Minister Modi's invitation to visit India for the next Annual Summit in 2015.
 

Vishwarupa

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Aaj tak ka samachar......

Raul Gandhi is apparently not happy with Modi's Japan visit since Modi didn't meet Doremon, Shinchan & Ninja Hattori.
 

nrupatunga

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Why Modi's Japan visit was a watershed - Brahma Chellaney
Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from Japan with notable gifts, especially a $35 billion Japanese assistance pledge that crowned a host of accords. But, like his predecessors, he will visit the White House bearing gifts, including a $2.5 billion contract for new military helicopters.

This, in a nutshell, explains why Modi's Japan visit was a watershed, cementing Asia's new democratic axis and co-opting Tokyo as an important partner in India's development and a collaborator on mutual security.

India and Japan are to cooperate on defence technology, maritime security and military preparedness, including on how to deter aggression and ensure a favourable balance of power in Asia.

For long, with major powers aggressively courting India to get a slice of its rapidly growing market, New Delhi measured success of its diplomacy by how many billions of dollars worth of contracts it doled out at a bilateral summit.

It made little effort reciprocally to secure lucrative contracts for Indian industry. As a consequence, India is the only major global economy that remains import-dependent, rather than being export-oriented, and thus relies largely on domestic consumption to fuel its economic growth.

Modi, however, is committed to change that by making India stronger and more robust by reviving slumbering economic growth. He knows there cannot be a better and more reliable partner in India's development than Japan, especially if his government is to significantly strengthen the country's manufacturing base, upgrade its rickety infrastructure, create a network of new 'smart' cities, and introduce bullet trains.

Japanese technology and investment can help make Modi's plans a reality. That is why Modi laid emphasis on his 'no red tape, only red carpet' message in Japan, saying he is striving to make India more hospitable for corporate activity. 'Some people say there is thick red tape in India, but I would like you to believe there is a red carpet in India,' he told Japanese businessmen.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's $35 billion pledge in private and public investment and financing over the next five years is indeed huge. This funding will be used to improve Indian manufacturing and skills, create 'smart cities' and electronics industrial parks, build high-speed rail lines and urban subways, clean up the Ganges, produce clean energy, and accelerate rural development.

But if this $35 billion assistance is to make a major difference, India must address its gaping current account deficit. India's monthly trade deficit is now running at $11.76 billion.

The massive trade imbalance with China, which has soared from $1 billion in 2002 to $30 billion in 2013, is at the root of India's serious current account deficit as the figure available for the most recent month (July) shows.

By importing raw materials from India but exporting finished products to it, China has effectively turned asymmetrical trade into an instrument to prevent India's rise as a peer competitor. China, India's largest source of imports, is also leveraging its trade and financial clout -- including its role as a major supplier of power and telecom equipment and its emergence as a lender to financially troubled Indian companies -- to dissuade New Delhi from assertively countering Chinese strategic encirclement.

Modi recognises that New Delhi must strategically collaborate with Tokyo to prevent the rise of a Sino-centric Asia, or else India's world-power aspirations will be stymied for good.

Asia's balance of power will be determined principally by events in two key regions: East Asia and the Indian Ocean. According to the 'Tokyo Declaration for India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership' unveiled during Modi's visit, these two leading maritime democracies in Asia have agreed to 'upgrade and strengthen' their defence relations and work together on advancing security in Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region, marked by the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

As energy-poor countries heavily dependent on oil and gas imports, India and Japan are naturally concerned by China's mercantilist efforts to assert control over energy supplies and transport routes as well as by its claim to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest and most-strategic waterways.

China, in addition, has unilaterally established an air-defence identification zone (ADIZ) covering territories that it claims (but does not control) in the East China Sea -- a dangerous new precedent in international relations.

Make no mistake: China's 'salami slicing' strategy involving the use of military intimidation or force to make furtive, incremental encroachments across land and sea borders has emerged as a key destabilising element in Asia.

Alluding to China, the Tokyo Declaration says India and Japan 'affirmed their shared commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation and overflight, civil aviation safety, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.'

Modi was blunter, telling a Tokyo symposium: 'Everywhere around us, we see an 18th century expansionist mindset -- encroaching on another country, intruding in others's waters, invading other countries, and capturing territory.'

This prompted the Global Times -- a mouthpiece for China's rulers -- to editorially say that 'It is perhaps a fact that he (Modi) embraces some nationalist sentiments against China.'

The new Indo-Japanese axis is pivoted on a mutual recognition that such an alliance can potentially shape Asian geopolitics in much the same way as China's rise or America's 'pivot' to Asia.

Together, Japan and India can impose discreet checks on China's propensity to flex its muscles and to assert revanchist territorial and maritime claims.

Not surprisingly, Indian and Japanese strategic policies have started evolving in parallel.

Long used to practicing passive, checkbook diplomacy, Japan under Abe is now pursuing a strategy of 'pro-active contribution to peace' by looking beyond its security ties with the US and building strategic partnerships with militarily capable democracies in the Indo-Pacific region.

India, for its part, has progressed from doctrinaire nonalignment to geopolitical pragmatism, the hallmark of Modi's foreign policy.

After many rudderless years, India and Japan have a prime minister with a sense of purpose and direction. This has not only injected new-found energy in their foreign policy but also is aiding the return of economic confidence in the two countries.

Such a trend holds long-term strategic implications. For example, India's GDP growth in three years could potentially overtake that of China, which faces the specter of a slowing economy.

To be sure, Modi sees the United States as equally important to Indian economic and security interests. Eager to restore momentum to India's relationship with America, he has shaken off the visa-related humiliations heaped on him by Washington for over nine years and is scheduled to visit the White House on September 30.

The US has still not expressed regret for revoking his visa over unproven allegations that he connived in Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002, when he was chief minister of Gujarat. Yet Modi has decided to place national interest above personal umbrage.

Modi is also reaching out to Beijing in the hope that he can co-opt a cash-rich China as a partner in his mission to economically transform India. But this approach is not without significant risks: For China, trade and economic cooperation is about raking in profits, not about building political bridges. So, booming trade has been no hurdle to its increasing territorial assertiveness.

Yet Modi's overture appears predicated on the belief that growing economic engagement will make Beijing more amenable to a peaceful settlement of border and other disputes.

What makes India's relationship with Japan special is that it has none of the military and trade tensions that bedevil its ties with China or the political and commercial frictions that jar its relations with America. Between India and Japan, according to Modi, 'There is only goodwill and mutual admiration.'

Abe has gone to the extent of saying that Japan-India relations hold 'the greatest potential of any bilateral relationship anywhere in the world.'

With the economic and security interests of the two countries dovetailing nicely, the process to significantly tap that potential is to be accelerated. Modi urged Abe that the two countries should 'strive to achieve in the next five years their relationship's unrealised potential of the last five decades.'

He added that there are 'no limits' to cooperation between the two nations and that their actions will help shape the 21st century for Asia.

The Modi trip has helped cement the India-Japan alliance, with the Tokyo Declaration calling the visit's outcome 'the dawn of a new era' in relations between 'Asia's two largest and oldest democracies.'

This partnership will strengthen maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region -- the world's leading trade and energy seaway -- and shape a healthy and stable Asian power equilibrium, with India serving as the southern anchor and Japan the eastern anchor of this power balance.
 

Razor

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Abe becomes first Japanese PM to visit Sri Lanka in 24 years

Shinzo Abe on Sunday became the first Japanese prime minister to visit Sri Lanka in 24 years, on the second leg of a South Asian tour that sought to assert Tokyo's interest in a region where it has ceded influence to China.

Abe was greeted by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Colombo's international airport, where a new passenger terminal will be built with the help of a $330 million (202.09 million pounds)Japanese development loan.

The two leaders struck "a new partnership between maritime countries" that reflects Japan's interest in keeping open shipping lanes that supply oil and liquefied natural gas from the Middle East to feed its energy-dependent economy.

"The president and I shared the view on building friendly ties and partnership between the two maritime countries," Abe said after the meeting.

Asian great-power diplomacy has stirred into life since the rise to power of Indian nationalist Narendra Modi, who announced his intent to play an active role on the world stage by inviting regional leaders to his inauguration in May.

Abe comes to India's backyard after hosting Modi for summit talks that yielded a Japanese pledge to invest $34 billion in India and launched a "special, strategic global partnership" to deepen security cooperation.

The Japanese premier pre-empts Chinese President Xi Jinping, who travels to India and Sri Lanka later this month.

"They (the Japanese) are aware that we are beholden to China's influence in many ways, so they would like to counter that," Nanda Godaga, a retired Sri Lankan diplomat who follows Japanese foreign policy, said before Abe's visit.
Source: Abe becomes first Japanese PM to visit Sri Lanka in 24 years | World | Reuters
 

amoy

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Re: India, Japan agree to take forward defence exchanges

that's why a multipolar world is what we shall go after :D competition is good now even Japan starts to up its alms to S. Asia . BTW Bangladesh is said to give up her UNSC contention - an almost sure win- in exchange for JP aid of an hefty amount ¥¥¥

an era of Great Asian Co-prosperity will come once CJK FTA is concluded. today we're all South Asians.

Sent from my 5910 using Tapatalk 2
 

Ray

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Japan gives no alms.

It works for the upliftment of underdeveloped societies and some times, not so altruistically, when she cranks in her strategic interest to wrap the noose around adversaries in the neighbourhood.

One wonders if China would be accepted as a part of South Asia. Geographically, it is East Asia and it has rather sinister designs on those in the neighbourhood.

Abe seems to be warming up to the nations along the periphery of the Indian Ocean and wanting the Rising Sun to establish itself as a forerunner in the Asiatic strategic and political arena.

Good luck to Japan.
 
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amoy

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Abenomics turns out to be another kamikaze :pound:

Some call Modi another Abe, then good luck to him.

Japan's Q2 GDP Plummets 6.8%! | Financial Markets

2Q GDP down by -7.1% not -6.8% per Bloomberg


But no doubt Abe-San will still deliver his commitments to Modi and he desperately needs a vast Indian market.
 

nrupatunga

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"Japan Plus" constituted to fast track Japanese investments
The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) has set up a special management team to facilitate and fast track investment proposals from Japan. The team, known as "Japan Plus", will comprise representatives from Government of India and METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), Government of Japan.

An outcome of the recently concluded visit of the Prime Minister of India to Japan, the mandate of the "Japan Plus" team runs through the entire spectrum of investment promotion – research, outreach, promotion, facilitation and aftercare. The team will support the Government of India in initiating, attracting, facilitating, fast tracking and handholding Japanese investments across sectors. The team will also be responsible for providing updated information on investment opportunities across sectors, in specific projects and in industrial corridors in particular. In addition, the "Japan Plus" team will identify prospective Japanese companies, including, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and facilitate their investments in India.

The "Japan Plus" team will also provide assistance to DIPP in undertaking regular benchmarking studies, identifying bottlenecks and areas of concern in sectors of interest to Japanese companies, and analyzing their impact on industrial development production in India.

"Japan Plus" has been operationalized w.e.f. October 8, 2014. "Japan Plus" will be coordinated by Mr. Kenichiro Toyofuku from METI and will comprise of four Indians and two Japanese officials. "Japan Plus" can be reached at [email protected] and at [email protected]

Government has also constituted a Core Group chaired by Cabinet Secretary on India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership. This group will comprise of Chairman, Railway Board; Foreign Secretary and Secretaries of DIPP, Economic Affairs, Expenditure, Financial Services, Revenue, Commerce, Urban Development, Electronics and Information Technology and others. The Core Group will be serviced by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion. This Core Group will co-ordinate and closely monitor the process to ensure that investments from Japan as envisaged in India–Japan Investment Promotion Partnership are facilitated in various sectors and opportunities of investment and technology transfer are fully exploited.

During the recent visit of the Prime Minister to Japan, the India–Japan Investment Promotion Partnership, as part of the Tokyo Declaration for India – Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership was announced. Under this Investment Promotion Partnership, Japan has offered to invest in India approximately 3.5 trillion Yen (US $ 33.5 Billion) by way of public and private investment and financing including Overseas Development Assistance, over the next five years.

India has been rated as the top investment destination by JBIC for the long term. Japan is the 4th largest FDI contributor to India, with major interests in pharmaceuticals, automobiles and services sectors and accounts for 7.46% of total FDI equity inflows into India. As per the JBIC survey report on overseas business operations by Japanese manufacturing companies, 90% of the respondents voted "future growth potential of local market" as the top reason for India's attractiveness. India is an attractive investment destination for Japanese companies, with 1,072 Japanese companies having 2,542 business bases in India. Over the last decade, the number of Japanese establishments in India have increased by 11 times, reflecting the positive sentiments of Japanese investors for Indian market.
 

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