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The
Prime Ministers of Japan and India met in Tokyo
on 22 October, 2008 for the Japan-India Annual Summit.
They shared the view that Japan and India, as major
countries in Asia that share common values and interests,
must advance bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation
in regional and multilateral areas with the objective
of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in
Asia and the world. They reaffirmed the importance
of the Strategic and Global Partnership established
in 2006 for this purpose and for harnessing the
full potential of Japan-India relations. |
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| 2. |
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The
two Prime Ministers reviewed the implementation
of the Roadmap for New Dimensions to the Strategic
and Global Partnership and expressed satisfaction
with the sustained progress that has been made through
joint efforts between the two sides. They also recognized
that there is still immense untapped potential for
the further expansion of bilateral relations. The
two Prime Ministers pledged to continue their efforts
to broaden and deepen the relationship on the basis
of the shared congruence of interests in order to
develop it as an essential pillar for the future
architecture of the region. |
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| 3. |
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The
two Prime Ministers welcomed the study on the future
course of cooperation in the security field between
the two countries and issued the Joint Declaration
on Security Cooperation between Japan and India
drawing on this study. They recognized that further
cooperation on the basis of the Joint Declaration
on Security Cooperation will be beneficial to peace
and prosperity in Asia and the world. They instructed
their respective Ministries to develop an Action
Plan with specific measures to advance security
cooperation based on this Declaration at an early
date. |
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| 4. |
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The
two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction
at the deepening of the Annual Strategic Dialogue
between the Foreign Ministers as well as the other
policy dialogues at respective levels. They also
welcomed the steady upgradation of defence exchanges
and cooperation and decided to encourage their Defence
Ministries to enhance their dialogue and collaboration
further based on the Joint Statement of May, 2006.
They also welcomed the contribution of established
bilateral dialogue mechanisms and urged them to
continue their valuable work. |
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| 5. |
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The
two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the
growth of bilateral trade which is expected to reach
$20 billion by 2010. They welcomed the substantive
progress achieved on the Economic Partnership Agreement
/ Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and
expressed hope that the negotiations would be concluded
at the earliest possible time. The two Prime Ministers
expressed their belief that this EPA / CEPA would
be mutually beneficial and would fully harness the
true potential of economic partnership. |
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| 6. |
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The
two Prime Ministers expressed happiness over the
long lasting investment relationship between the
two countries which has grown over a period of time,
especially the large presence of Japanese multi-nationals
in India. This interest has been robust in recent
years with Japanese direct investments rising substantially.
The pipeline of investments already planned was
also noted to be impressive. In this regard, the
two leaders welcomed efforts of JETRO and other
organizations to support investment by the Japanese
small and medium enterprises to India. Further the
Prime Ministers expressed the hope that the upward
trend would be sustained in the coming years. |
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| 7. |
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The
two Prime Ministers shared the view that the Japanese
Official Development Assistance (ODA) has contributed
to India's economic development and has generated
goodwill among the Indian people for Japan. They
shared the view that the Japanese ODA should continue
to play an increasing role in India's poverty reduction,
economic and social infrastructure development,
tackling environmental issues and human resource
development. The Prime Minister of India expressed
his appreciation to the Japanese people for their
generous role in India's development. |
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| 8. |
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The
two Prime Ministers were satisfied that the Special
Economic Partnership Initiative launched in December
2006 is beginning to give a strong stimulus to bilateral
economic and commercial ties and create new opportunities
for business. |
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| 9. |
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The
two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment
to the realization of the Western corridor of the
Dedicated Freight corridor (DFC) project, as the
new flagship project of Japan-India cooperation,
with the Japanese ODA Loan utilizing Japan's Special
Terms of Economic Partnership (STEP) scheme and
confirmed their readiness to jointly initiate the
first phase (Rewari-Vadodara sector) of the project.
In this regard, the Japanese side welcomed India's
decision to commission the Western corridor of DFC
with electric traction system. The assistance will
commence through an ODA Loan for Engineering Services
and the total volume of the loan for the first phase
is currently estimated to be approximately 450 billion
yen, based on the provisional project design. The
two Prime Ministers also expressed their commitment
to work together for early finalization of the assistance
for the entire Western corridor. |
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| 10. |
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The
two Prime Ministers expressed the view that the
Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project (DMIC),
which is linked to the Western Corridor of DFC Project,
has the potential to transform the dynamics of the
Japan-India economic engagement, and decided to
pursue this further. They welcomed the Memorandum
of Understanding signed between Japan Bank for International
Cooperation (JBIC) and India Infrastructure Finance
Company Ltd. (IIFCL) / Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor
Development Corporation (DMICDC) and confirmed that
they would continue to work together closely for
the joint establishment of a Project Development
Fund. Both sides also welcomed the active participation
by the Japanese companies in the 5 early bird projects
in the DMIC region in the areas of logistics, human
resource development, power generation and enclave
development. Both sides also welcomed the initiative
of the DMICDC to take up select projects for early
implementation in the Project States alongside the
master planning exercise. They expressed their desire
to further discuss overall cooperation on DMIC in
order to spur mutually beneficial business relations
that serve the long term interests of both countries. |
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| 11. |
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The
two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress made in
bilateral consultations on high technology trade
and noted the great potential in this area for collaboration.
The two Prime Ministers recognized the importance
of continuing bilateral consultations to facilitate
two way high technology trade while addressing matters
relating to respective export control systems. |
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| 12. |
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The
two leaders recalled the Joint Statement on Enhancement
of Cooperation on Environmental Protection and Energy
Security signed in August 2007 and stressed the
need for accelerating bilateral cooperation in these
vital areas. They welcomed progress achieved under
the Japan-India Ministerial-level Energy Dialogue
which confirmed the strengthening of cooperation
in energy efficiency and conservation sector particularly
through cooperation in establishing Regional Energy
Efficiency Centres in India, and the development
of a comprehensive cooperation in the coal and power
sectors. They also noted that under this Dialogue
the Energy Ministers confirmed that they will exchange
views and information on their respective nuclear
energy policies. They also welcomed progress achieved
under the Japan-India Energy Forum held by the New
Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
(NEDO) of Japan and The Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI) of India, and recognized the importance of
promoting cooperation between the two countries'
industries in order to expand bilateral energy cooperation
on a commercial basis. |
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| 13. |
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The
two Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction on the
achievement at the Second Meeting of the Japan-India
Joint Working Group on Urban Development in June
2008 and reaffirmed their intention to continue
to hold the Working Group meetings regularly. |
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| 14. |
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The
two Prime Ministers shared the view that they will
enhance cooperation in the field of Information
and Communication Technology including the research
collaboration and the introduction of wide-band
wireless technology. |
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| 15. |
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The
two Prime Ministers welcomed the report submitted
to them following the second meeting of the high-level
Business Leaders' Forum (BLF). They recognized the
crucial role played by business and industry of
both countries in intensifying trade, investment
and economic relations. They urged their concerned
officials to speedily examine and implement the
BLF's recommendations. |
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| 16. |
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The
two Prime Ministers emphasized the importance of
exchanges at the cultural, academic, youth and people-to-people
levels. They noted with satisfaction the enhanced
people-to-people exchange between the two countries
under the Aso Programme, including through the Japan-East
Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth
(JENESYS) Programme, and shared their renewed commitment
to maintain the upward trend. |
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| 17. |
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The
two Prime Ministers positively appraised the work
of the Japan-India Working Group set up to explore
possible collaboration in establishing a new Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT) with Japanese assistance
and welcomed the report submitted to them by the
Working Group. The two Prime Ministers confirmed
their commitment to collaborate in the establishment
of a new IIT in Hyderabad that will become a symbol
of joint efforts in promoting educational excellence
in India, through various contributions from Japan.
The two Prime Ministers also recognized that such
collaboration will require the joint work of the
relevant parties of both sides including academic
experts to identify the specific areas that can
be mutually beneficial. |
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| 18. |
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The
two Prime Ministers acknowledged the need to make
all efforts to take forward the collaboration for
the development of the Indian Institute of Information
Technology, Design and Manufacturing at Jabalpur
in accordance with the Memorandum signed in December
2006 on this subject. |
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| 19. |
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The
two Prime Ministers shared the view that nuclear
energy can play an important role as a safe, sustainable
and non-polluting source of energy in meeting the
rising global energy demands. The two Prime Ministers
shared the view that international nuclear disarmament
and non-proliferation efforts should be reinforced.
The two Prime Ministers also reiterated the importance
of strengthening their efforts towards the shared
goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. |
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| 20. |
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The
two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their support for
the East Asia Summit as an open, inclusive, transparent
and Leaders' led forum to promote cooperation on
issues of common interest and to deepen regional
economic integration towards the progressive realization
of an East Asia Community. They decided to work
jointly and with other countries of the region to
promote this objective at the forthcoming East Asia
Summit. They also welcomed the establishment of
the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East
Asia (ERIA) and referred to the report of the study
on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East
Asia (CEPEA) to be submitted in December this year. |
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| 21. |
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The
two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of
maintaining close cooperation between the two countries
in various international fora. They shared the view
that the reform and expansion of the United Nations
(UN) Security Council, in both the permanent and
non-permanent categories, is central to the process
of a comprehensive reform of the United Nations.
They welcomed the decision of the UN General Assembly
to commence intergovernmental negotiations not later
than February 28, 2009. They decided to continue
their close cooperation to achieve expeditious forward
movement towards a genuine reform of the Security
Council, so as to make it more representative, credible
and effective. In this context, they stressed the
important role of G-4, bilateral consultations as
well as their engagement with the larger UN membership. |
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| 22. |
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The
two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, reaffirmed that terrorism
constitutes a serious threat to international peace
and security, and welcomed efforts undertaken by
both countries to combat this menace. They underlined
their determination to strengthen bilateral cooperation
in combating terrorism through the Joint Working
Group on Counter-Terrorism as well as UN mechanisms.
They reaffirmed their desire for expeditious conclusion
of negotiations of the Comprehensive Convention
against International Terrorism at the United Nations. |
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| 23. |
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The
two Prime Ministers shared the view that the present
world economy is facing uncertainty, including financial
difficulties, and that it is important for the two
countries to continue discussion for the stability
and growth in the region and the world. They recognized
the need for joint efforts by all consuming and
producing countries to mitigate the impact of high
and volatile oil prices, which hamper global growth
and development. They also expressed concerns that
global food prices remain at high level, and called
for greater collaborative efforts to address the
challenge of the global food security. They also
discussed the current state of the negotiations
of the WTO Doha Development Agenda and reaffirmed
their will to continue their cooperation towards
an early and successful conclusion of the negotiations
with a balanced and comprehensive outcome. |
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| 24. |
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The
two Prime Ministers expressed their support for
the Bali Action Plan, and reaffirmed their determination
for a flexible, fair and effective agreed outcome
for now, up to and beyond 2012, in which all countries
participate. The Japanese side welcomed India's
recent announcement of the "National Action
Plan on Climate Change," and the Indian side
welcomed the various initiatives taken by Japan
on this issue. The two Prime Ministers shared the
view that the actions of all countries should be
taken based on national circumstances and various
criteria in accordance with the principle of common
but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities. They reaffirmed the desirability for
the UNFCCC Parties to adopt in the negotiations
a long-term global goal for reducing global emissions
and pledged to cooperate closely in this regard
toward the COP 15 next year. In this regard, they
noted the desire of the G8 nations to share with
all the parties of the UNFCCC the vision of reducing
global emissions by at least 50% by 2050. They also
noted that equitable burden sharing for sustainable
development should guide the negotiations on a shared
vision. In order to secure energy efficiency and
address climate change, they reaffirmed to promote
energy efficiency and conservation by implementing
individual, and where possible, sector specific
goals and action plans. Recognizing that actions
in various sectors could be a useful tool for global
emission reduction through measures such as improving
energy efficiency, they decided to move forward
on the practical development of cooperative sectoral
approaches and sector-specific actions, also in
cooperation with other countries, as confirmed in
the 3rd meeting of the Japan-India Ministerial-level
Energy Dialogue. They highlighted the importance
of promoting synergy between development and environmental
protection, and recognized the need to devote scaled
up resources to adaptation measures in developing
countries. They shared the view that Japan and India
must work closely together on Climate Change issues
in relevant international fora. |
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| 25. |
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The
Prime Minister of India conveyed his sincere appreciation
for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation
by the Government of Japan. He invited the Prime
Minister of Japan to visit New Delhi in 2009 for
their next Annual Bilateral Summit, at mutually
convenient dates to be decided through diplomatic
channels. |
