India, Japan agree on military sales, train, nuclear deal

On the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) issue, he said India had put it behind with Japan’s help in 2008 itself when the nuclear suppliers group chose to make an exception for India. “It also happened with the USA too”, he said.

Abe had stressed to reporters Friday that a nuclear cooperation pact between India and Japan – the only country in the world to have experienced atomic bombing – would be strictly limited to civilian uses of the energy.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe at the signing ceremony, in New Delhi on December 12, 2015.

The fundamental structure of this agreement is solid, he asserted.

Abe and Modi on Saturday also visited the ancient Indian city of Varanasi, in the country’s north.

The “Make in India” is proceeding in mission mode not just in India but also in Japan, he said referring to the “Japan Plus” initiative that was begun a year ago as a policy experiment.

“The memorandum on civil nuclear energy cooperation…is a shining symbol of a new level of mutual confidence and strategic partnership in cause of peaceful and secure world”, Modi said.

However, Japan asserted that it does not see India moving in that direction. Other pacts in key areas of defense and nuclear energy were also inked. It will facilitate sale of nuclear reactors from America to India, he added.

A bilateral agreement formed between an importing and exporting country to prevent the use of nuclear energy for military purposes. “It will become an engine of economic transformation in India”, Modi said in a speech, according to Reuters.

He said Abe underlined Japan’s commitment to NPT, CTBT, FMCT and that he wants to continue dialogue with India on these points. Abe and Modi called for freedom of navigation in global waters.

Besides, even U.S. companies, which partnered with Japanese firms (like GE-Hitachi and Toshiba-Westinghouse), need a deal between Tokyo and New Delhi in place to be able to sell India nuclear technologies and equipment with components originated in Japan.

In the past decade, ties between India and Japan have improved dramatically and Mr. Modi has made strengthening ties with Japan a special priority since taking office a year ago.

Under the defense deal, Japan will transfer defense equipment and technology to India and take part in the India-US Malabar exercises on a regular basis, apart from helping India in dealing with maritime problems in the Indo-Pacific region.