Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Japan Sunday for a visit aimed at progressing towards a civilian nuclear deal and boosting trade ties between the two nations. Japan and India launched talks in June on signing an atomic civilian co-operation agreement that will allow Tokyo to export nuclear power generation technology to energy-hungry India.
But Japan, which was hit by World War II US atomic bombings, has warned India that any new nuclear tests would force a halt to any civilian nuclear co-operation with the South Asian giant. "I am confident that we will be able to conclude an agreement (on a civilian nuclear deal), which will be a win-win proposition for both of us," Singh told Japanese media before heading for Tokyo.
Singh said India would like Tokyo to be its partner in nuclear energy, noting that Japan has "one of the highest and most advanced nuclear technologies."
"With regards to tests, we have unilaterally declared a moratorium on explosive testing and we have no intention" of revising that commitment, Singh said in an interview broadcast by NHK.
Singh and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan were Monday expected to declare the completion of talks on an economic partnership agreement (EPA), which Singh said would open up the fast-growing Indian market to Japanese firms.
"I attach great importance to the potential of the economic co-operation," Singh said. The EPA "will boost our trade and economic ties many-fold."
Japan's expertise in technology and India's "fast-extending market", if combined, can bring about "mutually beneficial growth opportunities" for both countries, Singh said, as quoted by Jiji Press.