International - India & World   

Manmohan discusses nuclear cooperation with Koizumi, Roh

Amit Baruah

India, Japan to "remain engaged" in G-4 on Security Council expansion

KUALA LUMPUR: Civilian nuclear cooperation figured at bilateral meetings Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun here on Monday.

The Prime Minister thanked Mr. Koizumi for Japan's support for India becoming a full partner in the International Thermonuclear Research Reactor project, a source in Dr. Singh's delegation told this correspondent.

At the meeting with Dr. Singh and Mr. Roh, it was decided that the National Security Advisers of the two countries hold talks on civilian nuclear cooperation.

Talking to presspersons, Rajiv Sikri, Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, said India and South Korea also discussed their ongoing cooperation in Myanmar's oil and gas sector. They spoke of expanding cooperation to include other countries.

Maritime security, including more bilateral cooperation between the navies and the coast guards, came up during the discussions with both Mr. Roh and Mr. Koizumi.

Security Council expansion

The Indian and Japanese Prime Ministers, meeting for the fifth time in the past 18 months, agreed to "remain engaged" in continuing their coordination through the G-4 (which includes Brazil and Germany) on the now-stalled plans of U.N. Security Council expansion.

Mr. Sikri said Dr. Singh accepted Mr. Koizumi's invitation to visit Japan next year. Its Foreign Minister, Taro Aso, would travel to New Delhi in the new year.

The report of the Joint Study Group, constituted by India and Japan on enhancing economic and trade links, would be ready in the next two months.

The Japanese side reiterated its commitment to the high-speed railway freight corridor, agreed to during Mr. Koizumi's visit to New Delhi in April.

The Japanese Prime Minister told Dr. Singh that Tokyo welcomed India's participation in the inaugural East Asian Summit on Wednesday. He said the two countries were still to exploit the latent potential in bilateral relationship.

"The time is right for enhancing our relations," Mr. Koizumi was quoted as telling Dr. Singh during the 30-minute meeting. The Prime Minister told Mr. Koizumi that India had no problems with Japan.

"There is a political consensus in India for having good relations with Japan," he told the Japanese leader.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Britain permitted CIA flights, admits Straw
Woman rescued two months after quake
Policemen injured in Sri Lanka blast
Quake located deep under earth's surface
A leap for the `barefoot' graduates
Mice with human brain cells
Suspended sentence for mercy killing
"Reformed" gangster executed in U.S.
Lebanese Editor's murder condemned
Manmohan discusses nuclear cooperation with Koizumi, Roh
World Trade Organisation talks begin amid huge protests
India forms core group on non-agricultural market access
English is your asset, says Koizumi

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu