India-Japan for for enhanced civil nuclear energy cooperation

Tokyo, Dec 15 (UNI) India and Japan today agreed that international civil nuclear energy cooperation should be enhanced through constructive approaches with appropriate IAEA safeguards.

In a joint statement issued at the end of official talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, the two sides also agreed to continue to discuss the international civil nuclear energy cooperation framework with respect to India.

The two leaders decided to establish a 'strategic and global partnership initiative' between Japan and India, given their determination to raise bilateral relations to a higher level.

They said this would impart stronger political, economic and strategic dimension to bilateral relations, serve long-term interests of both countries, enhance all-round cooperation and contribute to greater regional peace and stability.

The two leaders also announced 'a Japan-India special economic initiative'.

UNI SA AT HT1525