[Title] Japan-India Partnership in a New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of Japan-India Global Partnership, Eight-fold Initiative for Strengthening Japan-India Global Partnership
In order to realize the full potential of their global partnership for peace and prosperity, the Prime Minister of Japan and the Prime Minister of India decided on the following Eight-fold Initiative:
1. One, enhanced dialogue and exchanges: The two leaders recognize the importance of regular dialogue and exchanges in increasing mutual understanding. They note with satisfaction in this context that their meeting was the third one between them in a period of one year. They decided to hold annual Prime Minister level meetings, alternately in the two capitals or elsewhere, taking advantage of opportunities at regional and multilateral meetings. They also confirm their intention to promote regular ministerial level exchanges, including those between their Foreign, Defence, Trade, Finance and ICT Ministers. A High Level Strategic Dialogue will also be launched between the two countries. The two sides will fully utilise their existing dialogue mechanisms, and launch an oil and natural gas cooperation dialogue between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India.
2. Two, comprehensive economic engagement: The two sides will take several measures for broadening and deepening economic and trade cooperation between Japan and India based on the complementarities of the two economies, and decided to work towards quantum increase of the trade volume as well as for diversifying trade.
3. The two leaders directed the Japan-India Joint Study Group (JSG), which is to be launched by June 2005, to submit its report within a year, focusing on measures required for a comprehensive expansion of trade in goods, trade in services, investment flows and other areas of economic relations between the two countries. The JSG will also consider the feasibility of the two countries moving towards a liberalized and upgraded framework for economic engagement, including a Japan-India economic partnership agreement. The Policy Dialogue, which was recently launched between METI and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, will be utilised to identify and implement on a priority basis measures required to remove impediments and facilitate closer economic relations. The JSG comprising of government ministries, business leaders and academics, may take into account inputs provided by this Policy Dialogue.
4. The Governments of Japan and India will make a special effort, in collaboration with the private sector, to encourage higher levels of investment by Japanese companies in India. They will strengthen technical cooperation to improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturing industries. The Government of Japan is also prepared to provide every possible support to International Engineering & Technology Fair organized by Confederation of Indian Industry in 2007, exploring the possibility to be a partner country. The Joint Task Force on ICT and the ICT Forum will be utilized to develop a roadmap for increased ICT cooperation, taking into consideration the potential for synergising the advantages of both countries in this field, including the idea of an IT databank.
5. The Government of India highly appreciates the fact that India is the largest recipient of the Japanese Official Development Assistance. The Government of India also notes with appreciation that the Japanese side has committed yen loans of JY 134.5 billion for eight projects in FY 2004, including North Karanpura Super Thermal Power, Delhi Metro and Ganga Action Plan for water purification (Varanasi). It is confirmed that the ODA will continue to be utilised to support India's efforts at accelerated economic development, particularly in priority sectors like infrastructure, including transportation and power, and environment. The Governments of Japan and India agree in principle to resume the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) scheme in India.
6. Keeping in view the renewed focus of the global partnership and the goal of bringing about a quantum increase in the level of economic engagement, the two sides shared the view that Japan's Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) Scheme could be one of the effective means for carrying out large-scale priority projects in infrastructure sector in India. The two sides confirmed their intention to examine the feasibility of proposals for dedicated multimodal high-axle load freight corridors with computerised train control system on Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Howrah routes utilising STEP Scheme and with the inputs of Japanese technology and expertise.
7. The two Governments will work for improved connectivity between the two countries, including through civil aviation links and shipping links. Negotiations to revise the existing tax treaty will be concluded at the earliest possible date.
8. Three, enhanced security dialogue and cooperation: The two leaders recognize the important roles Japan and India play in tackling regional as well as global security challenges. They reaffirm their desire to further develop dialogue and exchanges between the two countries in the security and defence fields, including through full utilisation of the Comprehensive Security Dialogue, Defence Policy Dialogue and Military-to-Military Talks. Service-to-Service exchanges between defence establishments of the two countries will also be strengthened. Recognising the importance of ensuring the safety and security of international maritime traffic, the two leaders directed the Coast Guards and related agencies of both countries to work together on a sustained basis, including the annual Japan Coast Guard-Indian Coast Guard talks, joint exercises against piracy as well as cooperation through means of information sharing and technical assistance. The Japan Coast Guard and the Indian Coast Guard will commence efforts to establish a framework of effective cooperation. The two leaders, in view of the importance of maritime security, also instructed the Maritime Self Defence Force of Japan and the Indian Navy to enhance their cooperation, including through exchange of views, friendship visits and other similar activities.
9. Four, Science and Technology Initiative: Japan and India, as two countries seeking to transform into knowledge-based societies, recognize the importance of science and technology cooperation. The two sides note in particular the areas of their respective strength, and will work together to exploit the enormous potential for cooperation in this field, including in the area of high-technology. They will work together to launch a new Science and Technology Initiative, which will explore possible substantial cooperation in areas such as modern biology, biotechnology and health care, agriculture, hydrocarbon fuels, nano-science and technology, environment, information and communication technology, robotics, alternative sources of energy, etc. The Governments of Japan and India will reinvigorate the Japan-India Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation, the next meeting of which will be held later in 2005, and which will discuss the modalities and implementation of this new Science and Technology Initiative. The two Governments will also step up cooperation in high technology, including by exploring ways and means to expand high tech trade.
10. Five, cultural and academic initiatives and strengthening of people-to-people contacts: The two leaders share the view that greater interaction between the peoples, particularly among the youth, provides a stronger basis for the relationship between the two countries. They also recognize the importance of raising the profile of Japan in India and of India in Japan. They firmly believe that cultural and academic initiatives and stronger people-to-people contacts will create the right environment for the leaders of tomorrow to carry forward the vision of the global partnership, and will build upon the goodwill that exists in the two countries in respect of each other.
11. Accordingly, the Governments of Japan and India will work together to promote Japanese language studies in India, with a target of 30,000 learners at different levels in the next five years, and through measures including the introduction of Japanese language as an optional foreign language in Indian secondary school curriculum. In this regard, the Government of Japan welcomes and encourages the Government of India's initiative to establish Centres of Japanese Studies at Indian universities and institutions where Japanese language is being taught and to set up Japanese language teaching cells in seven Indian Institutes of Technology.
12. The Governments of Japan and India will encourage people-to-people exchanges especially among the younger generation, including through student exchange and the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme; continue promoting cultural and academic exchanges, which will be regularly reviewed and reinforced through the Mixed Cultural Commissions; develop institutional links between the Japan Foundation and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations; establish a Japan Cultural Center of the Japan Foundation in New Delhi and an Indian Cultural Center in Tokyo; develop tourism related infrastructure including the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit in India with Japanese assistance; enhance two-way tourism and in this regard, the Japanese Government will dispatch a study mission to India in 2005. The Governments of Japan and India will also introduce a new academic exchange programme involving ten designated educational institutions on either side. The two sides will also make every effort to collaborate towards the development of an Indian Institute of Technology as well as the Indian Institute of Information Technology for Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur. The two Governments will also hold a Festival of Japan in India and a Festival of India in Japan in 2007/08 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cultural Agreement between Japan and India.
13. Six, cooperation in ushering a new Asian era: The two leaders realize and appreciate the importance of the respective roles and responsibilities of their countries in promoting peace, security and prosperity in Asia. Towards this end, they intend to realise an East Asian Community and work together to promote the vision of an Asian Economic Community as an 'Arc of Advantage and Prosperity'. The Japanese side conveyed its decision to support India's membership in the East Asia Summit and the Indian side expressed its appreciation for the Japanese support. The Governments of Japan and India will also cooperate in combating transnational organised crimes, and work together for disaster mitigation, including earthquake, cyclone and tsunami.
14. Seven, cooperation in UN and other international organizations: The two leaders acknowledge the vital importance of the role of the United Nations in world peace, stability, and prosperity, and reaffirm their intention to work together for the early realization of U.N. reforms, particularly Security Council reform. They also stress the importance of revitalization of the General Assembly, as it represents the general will of all Member States, as well as the importance of enhancing the efficiency of the U.N. agencies and organs in the social and economic fields in order to effectively address urgent challenges. In this connection, they stress the importance of taking a decision on Security Council reform before the Summit in September 2005, as the Secretary-General recommended. They note with satisfaction the on-going cooperation between Japan and India, including in the G-4 setting, to bring about reform of the U.N. Security Council, by expanding the membership of both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make the U.N. more representative, more credible and more effective. They reiterate their support for each other's candidature, based on the firmly shared recognition that Japan and India are legitimate candidates for permanent membership in an expanded Security Council. They also stress the importance of moving the process forward through consultation with a wide range of like-minded countries, and decide to strengthen their cooperation for this.
15. The Governments of Japan and India will also expand and enrich their cooperation in other international organizations, including in the WTO. The two Governments will work together to achieve the objectives enshrined in the Doha Work Programme of August 1, 2004. As key players in global economic management, the two Governments support an open, fair, equitable and transparent rule-based multilateral trade system and intend to work together to preserve stability and growth in the global economy.
16. Eight, responding to international challenges: Recognizing the threat posed by terrorism and the importance of the international community working unitedly to counter this menace, the Governments of Japan and India will further consolidate their existing cooperation, both bilaterally and in various international fora. The Japan-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism will hold its first meeting soon to identify possible future areas of cooperation.
17. The Governments of Japan and India will also work as partners against proliferation. While expressing their respective positions on the approaches towards the shared goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, the two Governments affirm that they will seek to promote commonalities and identify areas of convergence for mutual cooperation between them in a constructive manner, contributing to the advancement of overall bilateral relations.
18. The two Governments will also strengthen their energy and environmental cooperation, including on sustainable development and environmentally sound technologies. In doing so, they will ensure increased focus on energy security, energy efficiency, conservation, and pollution-free fuels. They will also cooperate in the hydrocarbons sector in the areas such as exploration and production, and downstream projects including in third countries as well as on improving Asian oil markets and increasing investments in Asian energy infrastructure.