India confident of Japan's support in Nuclear Suppliers Group

Tokyo, Dec 13 (UNI) As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew into Tokyo this evening for a four-day visit, India today expressed confidence that Japan would support it in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) though it may not openly endorse the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

"Japan understands our needs for nuclear material and resources," National Security Adviser M K Narayanan told reporters accompanying Dr Singh on the visit that is aimed at strengthening the strategic and economic content of India's ties with one of the most powerful economies of the world.

"While it is unlikely that Japan will openly endorse the deal, we are fairly confident that Japan will be willing to support us in the NSG," he said.

India has been briefing Japan on the deal with the US and Tokyo's views were still evolving. Officials had said earlier that "this is an ongoing conversation." Japan's support for India in the NSG, to enable greater cooperation with its member-countries in the area of civilian nuclear energy, would be significant given that it was one of the first to impose sanctions on India after it conducted nuclear tests in 1998.

Dr Singh arrived here around 2040 hrs local time (1710 hrs IST), declaring that relations between the two countries were poised to enter a new and dynamic phase, driven by a shared desire to enhance bilateral ties.

Apart from Mr Narayanan, he is accompanied by his Principal Secretary T K A Nair, Commerce Secretary G K Pillai.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon had arrived here earlier.

The Prime Minister was received at the Haneda airport by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Indian Ambassador H K Singh and other senior officials.

Apart from the India-US Civil Nuclear deal,the bid by both countries for permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council, as part of the G-4 initiative which also includes Brazil and Germany, will be high on the agenda during the discussions.

Mr Narayanan said the main aim of the visit was to enhance the Strategic partnership between the two countries and upgrade it to a global partnership.

''We think during the Prime Minister's meetings with the Japanese leaders, it will be possible to achieve this objective. We have a wide range of topics, including policy matters, strategic issues and defence cooperation,'' he added.

"The talks will cover the entire range of issues. We are two of the most vibrant and established democracies in the region," Mr Narayanan said, adding that he felt the visit would be "seminal" in nature.

He said that, in the area of defence, the two sides would agree on cooperation in anti-piracy measures in the sea lanes in the region.

Mr Narayanan pointed out that the Coast Guards of the two countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and were conducting joint exercises.

Describing the visit of then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is now looking after the External Affairs Ministry, to Tokyo in May as 'pathbreaking', the NSA said the Japanese defence agency was looking at enlarging its role and would like a greater degree of understanding with India.

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