India, Japan to boost defence cooperation
Dated 25/5/2006
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Tokyo: India and Japan Thursday announced a slew of measures to step up defence cooperation, including holding goodwill exercises between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF).
They have also decided on 'progressively advanced content of future exercises', a joint statement issued here after bilateral discussions between visiting Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Japanese Minister of State for Defence Fukushiro Nukaga said.
Mukherjee arrived here Thursday on a four-day visit to Japan.
'The two sides also agreed on exchange of ship visits between the Indian Navy and the JMSDF. They also agreed to invite officials of the other side to witness designated military activities,' the statement said.
The two countries also envisage holding meetings between their defence ministers at regular intervals, alternately in the two capitals or elsewhere, also making use of opportunities at regional and multilateral meetings.
They will also hold a Defence Policy Dialogue at the defence secretary-level from time to time, alternately in India and Japan. There will be a regular comprehensive security dialogue and military-to-military talks, the statement said.
At the delegation-level talks, the two ministers discussed the emerging security environment in Asia and at the global level that have challenged both countries through new and emerging threats, including trans-national terrorism, violent extremism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and related materials, equipment, technologies and the means of delivery. They also discussed the threat to maritime traffic.
The two ministers recognised that 'in today's era of globalisation and interdependence among nations, such new and non-traditional threats affect the security of nations worldwide, including India and Japan', the statement said.
They also exchanged views on traditional challenges of mutual concern and interest that have a bearing on the Asian and global security.
To a specific request from Nugaka, Mukherjee announced that the Indian Army band will participate in the Band Marching festival in Japan in November.
Mukherjee also offered incentives to the Japanese Self Defence Force for participating in programmes conducted by India's National Defence College. The incentives will be in the form of fee waiver and subsidies in living costs.
Before the start of the talks, Mukherjee drove to the Memorial Zone, a cenotaph built in memory of the Japanese soldiers who laid down their lives for the cause of the nation.
Mukherjee inspected an impressive guard of honour presented by the JMSDF and visited the Edo-Tokyo Museum that has a large number of artefacts spanning over 400 years.
