India confident of inking civilian nuclear deal with Japan: PM

Tokyo, Oct 24 (PTI) India is confident of signing a
"win-win" civilian nuclear deal with Japan and is looking
forward to a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to
boost bilateral trade, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said.
"I am confident that we will be able to conclude an
agreement (on nuclear deal), which will be a win-win
proposition for both of us. We have not laid down any deadline
for concluding these negotiations," Singh said shortly ahead
of his two-day visit here beginning Sunday.
Asserting that India has an "impeccable" record on
non-proliferation, he told the Japanese media that his country
is committed to maintaining a "unilateral and voluntary"
moratorium on explosive nuclear testing and has "no intention"
of revising that commitment.
"We are ready to work with Japan and other like-minded
countries in realising the vision of a nuclear weapon-free
world," Singh was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.
There is reluctance in Japan, the only country to have
witnessed a massive atomic attack, to proceed with the
civilian nuclear deal with India because New Delhi is not part
of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). So far, the two
countries have held two rounds of negotiations on the issue.
Singh, who will meet his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan
and other top leaders here, said that India would like Japan
to be its partner in nuclear energy in view of the advanced
capabilities of Japanese firms in the nuclear field and the
important role they play in the global supply chain.
The Prime Minister will hold talks with Kan on a range of
issues, including civil nuclear energy cooperation, security
cooperation and ways to enhance economic ties besides joint
infrastructure projects being carried out in India.
During his visit, an announcement will be made on
conclusion of negotiations on Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Singh said CEPA would open up the fast-expanding Indian
market to Japanese firms and facilitate the flow of Japanese
investment in India's growing infrastructure.
He also sees an "enormous" possibility for India, Japan
and China to work together for the prosperity of Asia.
Asked to comment on the maritime dispute between Japan and
China in the East China Sea, Singh said interstate relations
must be based on five principles of peaceful coexistence.
"In this context, we also approach our relations with
China, with whom we have established a strategic and
cooperative partnership," Singh said.
Outlining fields of cooperation, Singh said India and
Japan can cooperate in areas of civilian nuclear energy, clean
coal technology, renewable energy resources and
infrastructure, among others, as the "two friendly nations"
have multifaceted relations. PTI KIM
PBL


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