Japan to raise investment target in India to Rs 3.2 lakh crore over next 5 years

New Delhi, Mar 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday India was committed to providing all possible support to Japanese companies in India.

"Progress, prosperity and partnership are the basis of India-Japan relations," PM Modi said at the India-Japan Economic Forum.

At a joint media briefing, Modi said deepening India-Japan ties will not only benefit the two countries but will also help in encouraging peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Unilateral attempts to change the status quo using force should not be allowed, he said.

PM Modi said India and Japan understand the importance of a secure, trusted, predictable and stable energy supply and that both sides are determined to expand overall cooperation.

The two sides inked six agreements providing for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, besides firming a separate clean energy partnership.

In his comments, Kishida said the situation in Ukraine figured in the talks and described the Russian attack on that country as a serious development that has shaken the roots of international order. "We discussed the situation in Ukraine.

"The Russian attack on Ukraine is a very serious matter that has shaken the basis of the international system. We need to approach the matter with a strong resolve," Kishida said. "I told Modi that one-sided efforts to change status quo by force can't be allowed in any sector. We both agreed on the need for a peaceful solution to all conflicts on basis of international law," he added.

Referring to bilateral trade ties, he said Japan has an investment target of five trillion yen (Rs 3,20,000 crore) in India over the next five years. "We have announced that in the next five years, we will invest five trillion yen in India and we will further strengthen our cooperation," Kishida said.

The announcement follows the investment promotion partnership of 2014 when both sides had agreed for Japanese investment of 3.5 trillion yen from 2014 to 2019.

Following the talks, Japan also announced a sustainable development initiative for the Northeastern region. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at a media briefing that Modi and Kishida have "substantive discussions and outcomes" commensurate with the depths and expanse of India's engagement with Japan.

In his comments, Modi also said that India and Japan understand the importance of a secure, trusted, predictable and stable energy supply. The two sides also vowed to expand cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The Japanese prime minister said there is a need to work for a new world order, pitched for reforms of the UN Security Council and called for making the world free of nuclear weapons.

He said both sides will increase defence cooperation and take forward military exercises, adding the next '2+2' foreign and defence ministerial dialogue will be held soon. Kishida said cooperation in the energy sector will expand.

The Japanese prime minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived here at around 3:40 pm on his first visit to India as the head of the Japanese government. He will depart for Cambodia on Sunday morning.