India, Japan discuss trade, strategic cooperation

There was an extensive exchange of views on regional and global issues of shared interest and concern, including UN reform, climate change, the East Asia Summit, the situation in Afghanistan, Iran, Middle East, and the Maldives, among others, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

While the Indian side at the Foreign Office consultations was led by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, Deputy Foreign Minister Koro Bessho headed the Japanese team.

The two sides reviewed developments in bilateral relations since the last Annual Summit held in New Delhi on December 28 last year and expressed satisfaction with the further strengthening of India-Japan relations.

Discussions on bilateral relations covered areas of cooperation in the political, strategic, security, economic and cultural fields.

"Both sides reviewed the progress of flagship projects, including the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the new Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.

"They also discussed the calendar of commemorative events being held in both India and Japan throughout this year to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan," the statement said.

It said that the Japanese side looked forward to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s visit to Japan this year for the Annual Summit.

The Indian side invited the Japanese Foreign Minister to visit India for the India-Japan Strategic Dialogue and the newly-established Ministerial-level Economic Dialogue.

The dates for these visits will be worked out through diplomatic channels, it said.