After nuke talks; India-Japan engage in`'2+2 dialogue`

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) Taking their ties to new heights,
India and Japan on Tuesday held the first senior-level
dialogue on foreign affairs and security, during which they
discussed ways to enhance security cooperation and extensively
reviewed bilateral ties, including commencement of talks for
the nuclear pact.
While India, for the first time, held such an engagement
--known as '2+2 dialogue'-- Japan has been involved in such
consultation with mutual allies-- the US and Australia.
The fact that Japan has extended such deliberations with
a country other than its mutual allies, shows the significance
the ties are assuming.
The Indian side was led by Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, while Deputy Foreign
Minister Kenichiro Sasae and Vice Defence Minister Kimito
Nakae represented Japan.
While reviewing the status of bilateral ties, the two
sides noted with satisfaction the commencement of negotiations
on an India-Japan Agreement on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear
Energy, the conclusion of which will enable Japanese companies
to participate in the civil nuclear energy sector in India,
according to an official release.
The Indian side noted with appreciation the removal of
several Indian entities from the Japanese End User List,
thereby promoting High Technology Trade between the two
countries.
The engagement takes place just days after the two
countries initiated talks on June 28-29 on the civil nuclear
cooperation, a move which was widely hailed as a breakthrough
as it marked a major shift in the position of Japan -- the
only country which has been opposing any atomic dealing with a
non-NPT signatory country.
India and Japan will continue to cooperate in their
efforts to reform the United Nations Security Council,
including in the G-4 framework, the release said.
In the area of security, each side provided the other
with an exposition of its defence and security policies in the
framework of their respective security environments.
Against this background, the two sides reviewed the
India–Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and the
Action Plan to advance such cooperation, according to an
official release from External Affairs Ministry.
Besides discussing non-traditional threats to security,
the two sides decided to hold the next meeting of the
India–Japan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism at an
early date with an aim to strengthen cooperation in this
field. MORE PTI