Japan's focus on healthy relationship with India: Envoy

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) Japan today said its focus is clearly on India for a mature and healthy political and strategic relationship besides the economic ties.

Japanese Ambassador to India Hideaki Domichi stated this at a symposium on ''Security and Strategic Challenges in Asia: Prospects of Japan-India Cooperation'' organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Japan Embassy and Gaiko Forum of Japan here.

Predicting that Asia will undergo a dramatic change, he underlined the need for economic integration of Asia.

Mr Domichi said economic integration in turn would deter conflicts in the continent and also lead to a proactive, stable, peaceful and resurgent Asia.

Speaking on the occasion, for Indian Ambassador to Japan Arjun Asrani urged the Japanese government to amend its Cabinet decision which debars highly potential defence channel cooperation between the two countries.

Former Foreign Secretary K Raghunath did not rule out potential for tensions in Asia.

He underlined the need for inter-dependence of Asian countries and a cooperative regional system which respected the aspirations of all nations.

Describing Asia as most resurgence and population rich continent, Prof Brahma Chellaney said Japan and India have similar interests with both depending on Gulf countries for its energy supplies.

''The two countries are classic natural allies and should build strategic ties,'' he added.

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