JAPAN-INDIA 2LST

The Japanese Foreign Minister said he had conveyed to
Krishna that his country attaches importance to India's
efforts on Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Fissile
Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
India has maintained that it would be ready to work with
the international community for bringing CTBT and FMCT into
effect.
Okada said the two sides also discussed ways to boost
trade and exchanged views on Afghanistan, Pakistan and North
Korea among other issues.
He said the economic relations between the two countries
had deepened and expanded over the years but were "still far
short of potential."
He underlined the need for doubling efforts to realise
the real potential in trade, which he said could go up by 10
times from the present level.
The Economic Partnership Agreement, negotiations for
which are underway, would help in this regard, he said.
The Japanese Foreign Minister said "some problems"
remained but negotiations were proceeding and hoped these
would be concluded before Singh's visit to Tokyo for annual
Summit talks in October as the decision would ultimately be
a political one.
Okada said the Japanese Cabinet had discussed the issue
yesterday and after his return, he would apprise the Cabinet
about his discussions with the Indian side.
He proposed setting up of Finance Ministers' dialogue on
the pattern of the one Japan has with China and said India
would be considering it. He suggested that the business
chambers could also be associated with it.
Krishna said he had thanked the Japanese government for
removing 11 Indian entities from their End-User List which
would provide a boost to hi-technology trade between the two
countries.
He said he also thanked Japan for its continuing Official
Development Assistance as well as their support to India's
flagship infrastructure projects like Dedicated Freight
Corridor, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the
establishment of IIT-Hyderabad.
Okada said his country would continue to support these
projects.
The two sides exchanged views on the evolving regional
architecture in Asia and in this connection welcomed the
decision of ASEAN Foreign Ministers to include the US and
Russia in the East Asia Summit, Krishna said.
The two leaders also agreed to enhance consultations
within G-4 (which also includes Germany and Brazil) process
for reform of the UN, including its Security Council. All the
G-4 nations are aspirants for permanent membership of an
expanded Security Council.
Okada proposed that the Foreign Ministers of the G-4
countries should meet in New York next month on the sidelines
of the UN General Assembly, which was accepted by Krishna. PTI