Japan asks India to sign CTBT

New Delhi, Dec 29: Japan on Tuesday Dec 29, asked India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

However, India put the burden on the US and China for taking a lead in this direction.

India and Japan also signed a joint statement on moving to a new stage of their strategic and global partnership here today.

The joint statement to this effect was signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama after their talks on a wide range of issues on civil nuclear energy and security.

Addressing a joint press conference, Hatoyama said the two countries have discussed "differences" over the issue of CTBT and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He further said, "I expressed the hope that along with the US and China, India will sign and ratify the (CTBT) treaty."

Singh said, "India was committed to universal, voluntary and non-discriminatory disarmament and voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing."

OneIndia News