Japan on Monday announced doubling of its private and public investment in India to about 34 billion dollar over the next five years. The two countries decided to elevate their ties to a Special Strategic Global Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during their summit level talks also reaffirmed the importance of bilateral defence relations in their strategic partnership and agreed on greater defence equipment and technology cooperation.

The summit meeting took place on the third day of Mr. Modi's five-day visit to Japan when the two countries also decided to expedite talks on sale of US-2 amphibian aircraft to India for enhancing maritime security.

At a joint press conference, Abe also announced that as an example of Indo-Japan cooperation, Tokyo will help India in providing financial, technical and operational support to

introduce Bullet trains, the project that Modi has been actively pursuing.

On the civil nuclear deal, which was expected to be finalised during the visit, Abe said they have directed the officials to accelerate negotiations for early conclusion of an agreement to strengthen partnership.

The 34 billion dollar of investment from Japan to India including Official Development Assositance during a 5-year period will be under the aegis of India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership for development of projects including infrastructure and building of smart cities. Mr. Abe said five-year period will also see the doubling of the presence of Japanese firms in India.

Thanking Mr. Abe for providing him an opportunity to make Japan his first bilateral visit outside South Asia, Mr. Modi said, we both have decided to raise the relationship to a special strategic and global partnership by giving it a special emphasis.