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http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1628673.ece
A Japan-India-United States trilateral — an idea on the boil for the past one year — will now come to fruition with all sides agreeing to discuss regional and international issues under this format.
"It was agreed to establish an India-Japan-United States trilateral dialogue on regional and global issues of shared interest. These consultations, agreed to earlier by the U.S., will be conducted by the Foreign Ministries of the three countries," said a Ministry of External Affairs news release after the end of India-Japan Foreign Office consultations in Japan.
The announcement comes days before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is due to meet the top Chinese leadership in Sanya on the sidelines of the Brazil-Russia-India-China summit (with South Africa to join in as a new member).
Both sides are expected to announce a major economic initiative to broad-base their bilateral dialogue. Dr. Singh is also likely to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and an economic engagement is on the cards.
The trilateral initiative was announced after all sides had tested the waters by holding a trilateral naval exercise off the coast of Okinawa in Japan. The earlier plan was to hold a India-U.S. naval exercise under the "Malabar Series" near Okinawa as India wanted the involvement the U.S. Marines, who were based in strength off this Japanese city. Along the way, it was decided to involve Japan as well.
The idea of conducting multi-nation naval exercises led by the U.S. and involving India was given up after one attempt in 2007 following concerted protests by the Left Parties. Its partial revival this year did not give rise to much opposition.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao met Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae and Deputy Foreign Minister Koro Bessho on Friday and also called on Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto.
Ms. Rao clarified that India had not yet taken a decision on banning Japanese food imports. India will consult Japan before taking a decision on the advisory issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
The two sides agreed that the new Ministerial-level Economic Dialogue, announced by the Prime Ministers in Tokyo last year, would be led by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. The first meeting will take place later this year.
With India keen on securing Japan's backing for a seat on the quartet of non-proliferation international organisations including the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, Ms. Rao reaffirmed the importance of nuclear power as a clean source of energy for India's continued growth. Both sides steered clear of mentioning the stalled India-Japan civil nuclear talks, which hit a roadblock after three rounds.
A Japan-India-United States trilateral — an idea on the boil for the past one year — will now come to fruition with all sides agreeing to discuss regional and international issues under this format.
"It was agreed to establish an India-Japan-United States trilateral dialogue on regional and global issues of shared interest. These consultations, agreed to earlier by the U.S., will be conducted by the Foreign Ministries of the three countries," said a Ministry of External Affairs news release after the end of India-Japan Foreign Office consultations in Japan.
The announcement comes days before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is due to meet the top Chinese leadership in Sanya on the sidelines of the Brazil-Russia-India-China summit (with South Africa to join in as a new member).
Both sides are expected to announce a major economic initiative to broad-base their bilateral dialogue. Dr. Singh is also likely to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and an economic engagement is on the cards.
The trilateral initiative was announced after all sides had tested the waters by holding a trilateral naval exercise off the coast of Okinawa in Japan. The earlier plan was to hold a India-U.S. naval exercise under the "Malabar Series" near Okinawa as India wanted the involvement the U.S. Marines, who were based in strength off this Japanese city. Along the way, it was decided to involve Japan as well.
The idea of conducting multi-nation naval exercises led by the U.S. and involving India was given up after one attempt in 2007 following concerted protests by the Left Parties. Its partial revival this year did not give rise to much opposition.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao met Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae and Deputy Foreign Minister Koro Bessho on Friday and also called on Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto.
Ms. Rao clarified that India had not yet taken a decision on banning Japanese food imports. India will consult Japan before taking a decision on the advisory issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
The two sides agreed that the new Ministerial-level Economic Dialogue, announced by the Prime Ministers in Tokyo last year, would be led by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. The first meeting will take place later this year.
With India keen on securing Japan's backing for a seat on the quartet of non-proliferation international organisations including the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement, Ms. Rao reaffirmed the importance of nuclear power as a clean source of energy for India's continued growth. Both sides steered clear of mentioning the stalled India-Japan civil nuclear talks, which hit a roadblock after three rounds.
