India, Japan say they move ahead on civil nuclear cooperation

New Delhi, Apr 30: India andJapan today decided to speed up the process of concluding an agreement on the civil nuclear cooperation.

The two countries were also very close to an agreement for the cooperation in the field of rare earths, the elements thatJapanpresently imports mainly fromChinaand which have very important use in defence, military and communications etc.

AfterChina, onlyIndiaandSouth Africahave substantial rare earths deposits.

Visiting Foreign Minister of Japan Koichiro Gemba and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna made these announcements after the 6th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue and also the First Ministerial level Economic Dialogue.

Krishnain intercation with the media said the two countries discussed the possibility of an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation and asked their negotiators to look for the way forward.

The Japanese Foreign Minister also said there was a move ahead on the civil nuclear cooperation though he also expressedJapan’s concern over nuclear proliferation and commitment to disarmament.

Krishnasaid the two countries discussed ways of furthering their cooperation in the field of rare earths.

“After today’s discussions, I am convinced that we are very close to take-off stage in this important area of our bilateral cooperation,” saidKrishna.

The two countries had also decided to launch two new dilaogues on cyber security and maritime security.

Underlining thatIndiawas situated at a very important place in the sea links of communications and was very significant geopolitically, Gemba said the two countries were exploring to enhance their bilateral cooperation in the overall interest of not only of themselves but of peace and stability in the whole region.

In political and security area the two Ministers agreed to enhance cooperation in the maritime security, cyber space and outer space.

Earlier,Krishnasaid they reviewed political and security cooperation in the stratgeic dialogue and expressed satisfaction over the current state of their startegic and global partnership, saying it ”is stronger than ever before.” The two countries also condemned the missile test byNorth Koreaand urged it to heed the UNSC statement on the issue.

The Japanese cooperation in the development railway corridors and other project also came up for review. (UNI)