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Immense scope to boost Indo-Japan ties: PM

By KALYAN BAROOAH

TOKYO, May 27 � Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday said that India and Japan have a strategic and global partnership and there are enormous potentialities for further enriching the relationship between the two countries.

The red carpet was rolled out for the Prime Minister, who arrived here on a breezy evening, a welcome break from the scorching heat of Delhi.

Dr Singh�s arrival statement assumes significance in the backdrop of the growing influence of China. While Japan has a standoff with China over the Senkaku islands, India and China have an uneasy relationship over the boundary dispute. The biggest challenge for India and Japan today is how to deal with a formidably resurgent China.

India and Japan had in 2011 signed a joint statement entitled �Vision for the Enhancement of India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership� upon entering the year of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations during the visit of the then Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda.

�There are enormous potentialities for further enriching our relationship, deepening it and brightening it in the economic relations, political relations, security relations, in all areas there is enormous potential for widening and strengthening our relationship with Japan,� the Prime Minister said.

�Japan is a key regional and global partner for India. In my summit with the new government of Japan, led by my good friend Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, I will build on the momentum imparted by successive summits to the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership,� the Prime Minister who is scheduled to hold a formal bilateral summit meet with his Japanese counterpart, said.

�I propose to invigorate our relations with Japan in the political, security and energy spheres. We will explore ways to harness the full potential of our Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership by intensifying and balancing our two-way trade and investment linkages,� said the Prime Minister.

�The visit will also allow the two governments to take stock of the progress in flagship projects in our partnership, like the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and to facilitate bilateral engagement for meaningful and mutually beneficial association,� he said.

India values Japan�s friendship and New Delhi has been the largest recipient of Japan�s Official Development Assistance (ODA). During the period 2003-04 to September 2012, India has received over $ 35 billion under Japan�s ODA programme on commitment basis. Besides, a total of 59 projects are under implementation with Japanese loan assistance. The loan amount committed for these projects is estimated at over $12 billion.

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