India, Australia, Japan

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) India, Australia, Japan and Singapore will conduct joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal this September.

Visiting Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said this today, pointing out that his country attached great importance to Indo-Australian defence cooperation, and therefore sought to strengthen naval relations.

Earlier today, the two countries reached an agreement to share classified information relating to defence and security matters.

Talks were also on between the two sides for conducting joint air exercises and the exchange programme for key defence personnel, he said.

The minister, however, allayed Chinese apprehensions over the 'cooperation' between India, Australia, Japan and the US, saying their aim was to develop trade, economic and cultural ties.

Mr Nelson also welcomed Indo-US agreement on civil nuclear energy, saying his country was ''comfortable'' and supportive of the deal.

However, in accordance with his country's policy it would not supply uranium to any country that had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, he added.

UNI