Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe have decided to accelerate talks on a civil nuclear deal to allow Japan to export nuclear reactors to India. A joint statement issued at the end of talks between Dr Singh and Mr Abe said that the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries. The statement said, the two countries have directed their officials to accelerate the negotiations for an early conclusion of the civil nuclear deal.
India and Japan also welcomed the expanding bilateral defence ties and agreed to further cooperate on maritime security. They also decided to establish a Joint Working Group to explore the modality for the cooperation on the US-2 amphibian aircraft. With this move, Japan has moved a step closer to signing a landmark agreement on the supply of amphibious planes to India.
The countries also institutionalised naval exercises which will now be held on a regular basis with increased frequency. In his statement after the talks, Dr Manmohan Singh said, at a time of global uncertainties, change and challenges, India and Japan are natural and indispensable partners for advancing prosperity in the two countries and for a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.