India-Japan Global Partnership

Indian and Japanese governmentsdecided on Friday to launch a high-level &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2001/09/17/15344.html ' target=_blank>strategic dialogue, upgrade economic links and enhance energy, security and defence cooperation.

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After a wide-ranging talk on a series of issues, Indian Prime Minister &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/366/14339_India.html ' target=_blank>Manmohan Singh and his visiting Japanese counterpart &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/politics/2003/01/09/41786.html ' target=_blank>Junichiro Koizumi signed a joint statement on Friday evening outlining an updated vision of the India-Japan global partnership.

The document, captioned India-Japan Partnership in the New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of India-Japan Global Partnership, lays down an eight-point initiative envisaging enhanced and upgraded dialogue architecture, comprehensive economic engagement, enhanced security dialogue and initiatives in science and technology, cultural and academic fields, people to people contacts and cooperation in the UN and other international organizations, informs Xinhuanet.

China steadfastly opposes a permanent seat for Japan on the Security Council and thousands of people went on violent protests in China this month over school textbooks that critics say sugarcoat Japan's war-time history.

But India and Japan said they would "strengthen their cooperation" to push to make the Security Council "more credible and more effective" and consult "like-minded" nations.

The joint statement also said both countries' navies and coast guard ships would increase cooperation in Asian waters and would work to deepen economic and strategic ties, publishes Reuters.

At the bilateral level, Japan was unabashed in courting &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/366/15273_alliance.html ' target=_blank>India, seen by analysts as important in Tokyo's "strategic diplomacy" to cope with a rising China. "Japan and India need each other as strong and prospering countries. Japan and India share strategic interests," Koizumi said. Analysts said the building blocks of a future strategic relationship between the two powers in a "dynamically changing" Asia were being laid. NR

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