ID :
25844
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 19:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/25844
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Aso for eco pact with India, non-committal on nuke commerce
Tokyo, Oct 21 (PTI) Ahead of summit talks with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, Japanese Premier Taro Aso was
non-committal on Tokyo opening the doors for nuclear commerce
with India as he batted strongly for an economic pact to
further bolster bilateral ties.
Aso, who will be meeting Singh here Wednesday, hoped
that India would stick to its unilateral moratorium on atomic
tests and "implement" commitments made to the N.S.G. for
securing the waiver that ended its 34-year nuclear apartheid.
In an e-mail interview to PTI, Aso did not directly
respond to whether Tokyo would allow Japanese nuclear power
companies to engage in nuclear commerce with India but
highlighted that Japanese nuclear power industry was strong
and had proven credentials.
The Japanese government had boldly supported the
Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal at the 45-member Nuclear
Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) despite a public outcry in the only
nation to have suffered atomic bombings during World War II.
On the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement
(E.P.A.) between the two countries, he said "substantative
progress" has been made in their negotiations.
"E.P.A. is one of the most important issues. I would
like E.P.A. to become the trigger for further development of
the economic relations between Japan and India, Aso said.
"In order to do so, E.P.A. needs to be of a high
quality and beneficial to both countries."
He also expressed confidence that Singh's visit to
Japan will give a "renewed momentum" to the enhancement of
bilateral relations.
The Japanese P.M. said the E.P.A. will become the
"trigger" for expanding bilateral economic ties.
"We have seen substantive progress in our E.P.A.
negotiations and I am looking forward to discuss this matter
with Prime Minister Singh, based on the negotiations the two
countries have had so far," he said.
India and Japan have been negotiating a E.P.A. for the
last two years with an objective of giving a boost to the USD
10 billion bilateral trade by way of eliminating and slashing
duties on as much as 90 percent of the goods and services
traded between the Asian countries.
Describing the Indian market as "quite huge," Aso said
it has been growing at an astonishing pace in recent times.
"The Japanese companies are keenly watching its
development."
Aso, who responded to questions on a wide gamut of
important issues, said "Japan thinks the most important thing
is that, in order to maintain and strengthen the international
non-proliferation system, India will implement its commitments
and actions which presuppose the N.S.G. Statement, including
the continuation of its unilateral moratorium on nuclear
testing."
"Japan has pursued steadily the construction of
nuclear power plants, while making an effort to conform with
and ensure 3S, i.e. Non-proliferation/Safeguards, Nuclear
Safety and Nuclear Security, and seeking international
understanding and trust," he said.
Minister Manmohan Singh, Japanese Premier Taro Aso was
non-committal on Tokyo opening the doors for nuclear commerce
with India as he batted strongly for an economic pact to
further bolster bilateral ties.
Aso, who will be meeting Singh here Wednesday, hoped
that India would stick to its unilateral moratorium on atomic
tests and "implement" commitments made to the N.S.G. for
securing the waiver that ended its 34-year nuclear apartheid.
In an e-mail interview to PTI, Aso did not directly
respond to whether Tokyo would allow Japanese nuclear power
companies to engage in nuclear commerce with India but
highlighted that Japanese nuclear power industry was strong
and had proven credentials.
The Japanese government had boldly supported the
Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal at the 45-member Nuclear
Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) despite a public outcry in the only
nation to have suffered atomic bombings during World War II.
On the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement
(E.P.A.) between the two countries, he said "substantative
progress" has been made in their negotiations.
"E.P.A. is one of the most important issues. I would
like E.P.A. to become the trigger for further development of
the economic relations between Japan and India, Aso said.
"In order to do so, E.P.A. needs to be of a high
quality and beneficial to both countries."
He also expressed confidence that Singh's visit to
Japan will give a "renewed momentum" to the enhancement of
bilateral relations.
The Japanese P.M. said the E.P.A. will become the
"trigger" for expanding bilateral economic ties.
"We have seen substantive progress in our E.P.A.
negotiations and I am looking forward to discuss this matter
with Prime Minister Singh, based on the negotiations the two
countries have had so far," he said.
India and Japan have been negotiating a E.P.A. for the
last two years with an objective of giving a boost to the USD
10 billion bilateral trade by way of eliminating and slashing
duties on as much as 90 percent of the goods and services
traded between the Asian countries.
Describing the Indian market as "quite huge," Aso said
it has been growing at an astonishing pace in recent times.
"The Japanese companies are keenly watching its
development."
Aso, who responded to questions on a wide gamut of
important issues, said "Japan thinks the most important thing
is that, in order to maintain and strengthen the international
non-proliferation system, India will implement its commitments
and actions which presuppose the N.S.G. Statement, including
the continuation of its unilateral moratorium on nuclear
testing."
"Japan has pursued steadily the construction of
nuclear power plants, while making an effort to conform with
and ensure 3S, i.e. Non-proliferation/Safeguards, Nuclear
Safety and Nuclear Security, and seeking international
understanding and trust," he said.
