India, Japan unveil 'roadmap' to enhance ties

NEW DELHI: In an effort to impart substance to their strategic partnership, India and Japan on Wednesday unveiled a "roadmap" involving strengthening of ties in defence, security and economic fields.

After talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart, the two sides pledged to enhance cooperation to secure maritime environment of Asia to ensure smooth flow of goods and people.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, they decided on regular high-level dialogue and exchanges in the defence field besides between ministers and National Security Advisers.

In the economic field, they set a target of 20 billion US dollars to be achieved in bilateral trade by 2010. A joint business study group, co-chaired by Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, submitted a report to the two Prime Ministers on how to enhance commerce.

The joint statement on 'Roadmap for New Dimensions to the Strategic and Global Partnership' talks about enhancing all round cooperation, particularly in civil nuclear, political, security, defence, economic, high technology trade, higher education, IT, Science and Technology and disarmament fields.

"The two leaders recognised that India and Japan share common interests in such fields as maintaining the safety and security of sea lanes in the Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions and fighting against transnational crimes, terrorism, piracy and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," it said. (MORE)