Modi, Abe to hold crucial talks today
‘ 2+ 2 security dialogue’ being planned
India and Japan are likely to agree to launch a “twoplus- two” security consultative framework involving their foreign and defence ministers during crucial summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe here on Monday.
Mr Modi flew to Tokyo on Sunday evening after an overnight stay in the historic city of Kyoto, where he visited two ancient Buddhist temples, with Mr Abe accompanying him in a significant gesture.
During his hectic schedule in Kyoto on the second day of his five- day visit to Japan, Mr Modi also sought Japanese assistance to fight the deadly sickle cell anemia, that is commonly found among tribals in India, when he went to the stem cell research facility of Kyoto University, and got a positive response.
Mr Modi, 63, and Mr Abe, 59, who share cordial ties and hit it off very well in Kyoto, will have a substantive summit agenda. A new chapter is expected to be opened in Indo- Japanese ties when the two leaders will focus on enhancing cooperation in defence and infrastructure, besides boosting trade and investment.
The two sides are expected to agreed to launch a security consultative framework involving their foreign and defence ministers and sign an agreement to jointly produce rare earths that could be exported to Japan, while discussing ways to elevate the Strategic and Global Partnership to a new level.
Japan already has a security consultative frame- work with the United States, Australia, Russia and France.
“In the field of defence and security, I feel the time has come for us to upgrade our relations. I see in the recent changes in Japan’s defence export policies and regulations a possibility to engage in a new era of cooperation in high- end defence technology and equipment,” Mr Modi had said in an interview to the Japanese media ahead of the visit.
Discussions are also expected to focus on civil nuclear cooperation and help by Japan in improving India’s infrastructure, particularly the railways, and cleaning up of the river Ganga.