Japan, India Vow To Boost Strategic Ties At Tokyo Summit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held summit talks here Monday, and the two leaders decided to boost bilateral strategic ties and double Japan's investment in India within five years.

According to a declaration issued after the meeting, "The two leaders agreed to set a target of doubling Japanese investment in India and the number of Japanese companies operating in the emerging country within five years."

Abe pledged a loan of 50 billion yen (479.5 million U.S. dollars) to India for a public-private partnership infrastructure project in the country.
Regarding India's plan for development of world class infrastructure, including high speed railway system, Abe expressed his hope that India could introduce Shinkansen (Japan's bullet train) system for the Ahmedabad- Mumbai route.

The two leaders also welcomed substantial agreement on a commercial contract for production and supply of Indian rare earths to Japan, which are vital to the production of high-tech products such as hybrid cars and mobile phones.

Abe and Modi asked their officials to "further accelerate" negotiations for a civil nuclear pact, which would allow Japan to export nuclear-related technology to India.

Besides economic cooperation, they also discussed a number of other issues, such as "seeking ways to intensify" a security consultative framework, currently involving the countries' vice ministers of foreign affairs and defense, to a ministerial level.

Modi kicked off his 5-day visit to Japan since Saturday. Before arriving in Tokyo, he visited ancient Japanese city of Kyoto accompanied by Abe. (Cihan/Xinhua)