India, Japan to hold energy dialogue, work for Asian security

India and Japan Thursday invigorated their strategic partnership in the context of a rising Asia and agreed to push for an early bilateral free trade pact, cooperate in maritime security and hold their first energy dialogue that will also include nuclear energy.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso launched the first ministerial strategic dialogue in Tokyo by discussing a broad range of bilateral, regional and international issues, including terrorism, maritime security, the UN reforms, civil nuclear energy and cooperating against weapons of mass destruction.
In his discussions with Aso and his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Mukherjee sought Japan’s support for global civilian nuclear cooperation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, of which Tokyo is an influential member, by stressing the importance of nuclear energy for the fast-growing Indian economy.

Japan, which has special sensitivity on the nuclear issue as it was the only country to be attacked by nuclear weapons, indicated that it will explore ‘forward-looking approaches’ with India over nuclear energy, but said that it was yet to make up mind over it, diplomatic sources said here.
Both Abe and Aso, however, conveyed that Tokyo would wait for New Delhi to conclude safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency – and finalise bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact with the US before deciding on its stand in the NSG, the sources said here.

During the 40-minute discussions with Abe, Mukherjee also discussed ‘follow-up actions’ on a slew of decisions taken during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Tokyo in December to intensify strategic and business ties between the Asian giants.

Nuclear energy will also figure in the energy dialogue the two sides will launch in Tokyo next month.

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