India, Japan to hold strategic dialogue; nuclear energy in focus

NEW DELHI: India and Japan will hold their fifth strategic dialogue from Friday during which the two sides will review and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas, including civil nuclear field, trade and security.

During the two-day dialogue, to be led by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba, the two sides will also discuss agenda for visit of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda here in December.

"They will review all aspects of the bilateral strategic and global partnership and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest," the Ministry of External Affairs said here today.

India and Japan have held three rounds of talks on the civil nuclear cooperation deal, which seems to have suffered a setback due to Fukushima nuclear disaster after the earthquake in Japan.

Significantly, Japan has exempted India from the cuts it has implemented in its overseas aid programmes following the tsunami and the nuclear disaster at Fukushima

Given that the dialogue comes just days after increased Chinese assertiveness in South China Sea and barely weeks before the the East Asia Summit next month that will focus on evolving an inclusive regional architecture in which both countries have high stakes, the two leaders are expected to discuss issues relating to them.