The Hindu : Front Page : G-4 may move resolution in U.N.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

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G-4 may move resolution in U.N.

Amit Baruah

Japan prepared to be realistic and flexible: envoy

`India must shoulder greater responsibility for Asia stability'

NEW DELHI: India, Japan, Germany and Brazil, which have come together in the `G-4' to campaign for entering the United Nations' Security Council as permanent members, should consolidate their solidarity, the Japanese Ambassador to India, Yasukuni Enoki, said on Tuesday.

The `G-4' was preparing a draft resolution to be moved in the General Assembly for expanding the Security Council, he said ahead of the arrival of the Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, on Thursday.

Responding to China's support for India to enter the Council and not for Japan, the Ambassador said all `G-4' members had difficult neighbours. Asked whether Japan wanted membership with veto power, he replied: ``At present, yes.'' It was prepared to be realistic and flexible on the issue.

Japan expected China and India to be the ``superpowers'' of Asia. Mr. Enoki felt that India should shoulder greater responsibility for the maintenance of stability in Asia.

Global partnership

Japan was ready to ``provide strategic orientation'' to the existing ``global partnership'' between Tokyo and New Delhi. Development of bilateral relations was not only for mutual benefit but also conducive to stability in Asia and the rest of the world.

Action plan

An eight-point ``action plan'' to improve bilateral relations was likely to form part of the joint statement to be issued during Mr. Koizumi's visit, Mr. Enoki said. As part of enhancing dialogue and exchange, the two sides were likely to agree to a ``strategic dialogue'' between the National Security Adviser, M.K. Narayanan, and the Diplomatic Adviser to the Japanese Prime Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Energy dialogue

India and Japan, he said, were likely to agree on renewing their energy dialogue at the level of Petroleum Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry. Tokyo could help India set up a strategic oil reserve and also assist in efficient use of oil. The increase in consumption by India and China was driving up oil costs for Japan as well.

The Ambassador said Japan would "clearly articulate" its support for India's participation in the East Asian economic summit scheduled for December in Malaysia.

Nuclear non-proliferation

According to him, the post-May 1998 chapter in India-Japan relations was closed in 2000 following the visit of the then Prime Minister, Yoshiro Mori, to India in 2000. Stressing that Japan and India shared the ultimate goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, Mr. Enoki, however, said their approach was different. Non-proliferation was one ``common area'' for cooperation.

Pointing out that Japan's trade and investment with China was 30 times more than that of Japan and India, Mr. Enoki was quick to emphasise that there was no ``negative legacy'' in Tokyo-New Delhi relations. (The current trade between India and Japan was between $4 billion and $5 billion).

The envoy was hopeful of a ``second Japanese investment boom'' in India. This would be possible if Japanese companies brought foreign direct investment to India for manufacturing purposes.

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