Shinzo Abe’s India visit: Key pacts on the cards

New Delhi, Dec 11: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his third visit to India is set to arrive today (December 11). During his three-day visit he will hold annual summit talks with his counterpart Narendra Modi. India, Japan witnessed greater proximity during the Modi regime.

They will review the various decisions taken in a span of one year to boost economic ties, particularly in the trade and investment sector in the 9th annual Indo-Japan summit talks.

Relationship between India, the largest democracy in Asia, and Japan, the most prosperous, has been strengthened by shared values of belief in democracy, individual freedom and the rule of law.

In an editorial published in Times of India Abe writes, "Strong India is in the best interest of Japan and strong Japan is in the best interest of India."

While concluding the editorial he says "I intend to further promote exchanges between the people of Japan and India.

In particular, I would like more Indian students, to come to Japan, creating an abundance of young human resource."

Here are some expected outcome of the meeting between PM Abe and PM Modi

• The much-awaited treaty on transfer of defence equipment and technology is expected to become a reality. It will pave the way for selling of Japan's US-2 amphibious search and rescue plane and its induction in the Indian armoury.

• Both the leaders are likely to discuss nuclear energy cooperation, however the deal is not likely to be finalised during this summit.

• An agreement for Japan to build a bullet-train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is also on the cards.

• An accord on civil-nuclear co-operation that will enable Japanese companies bid to build nuclear-power stations in India may also become a reality.

• A deal may also be finalised that will allow India to buy and build Japanese seaplanes. It would amount to Japan's first foreign sale of a military platform; the ShinMaywa US-2 planes are used for surveillance as well as search-and-rescue.

OneIndia News