Japan, India agree on N-pact, Shinkansen

Japan and India signed agreements Saturday that could pave the way for Tokyo to supply New Delhi with military aircraft and high-speed trains, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to fully support India’s efforts to become an economic powerhouse.

Japan on Saturday committed itself to billions of dollars of investments in India, including a $12-billion loan at negligible interest for the much touted “Bullet Train” and another $12 billion for “Make in India” initiative, besides inking far-reaching pacts on defence and nuclear energy – as part of what has been termed as the “Power of 16” agreements.

Modi, who represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha, has visited the city many times since becoming the Prime Minister in May, 2014 though this is going to be the first occasion when he would be accompanied by a foreign counterpart with plans for a better future for residents of the city.

Prime Minister Modi and Abe were of the view that the imperatives of a stronger bilateral strategic partnership require deep and broad-based cooperation and concrete actions in defence, security, economic and cultural fields.

India also announced Japan’s participation in the India-U.S. Malabar naval exercises on a regular basis to deal with maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Bullet trains will revolutionize Indian railways and will be engine of economic transformation in India”, Modi said.

India will also extend visas on arrival to Japanese citizens from March 2016, in what it said was recognition of the two countries’ special relationship.

“The partnership between India and Japan has infinite potential”. He even said that this agreement will soon see the launch of high speed rail in Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector through Japan’s Shinkansen.

Modi said the agreement signed on nuclear energy cooperation was more than just an agreement for commerce and clean energy. He said the pact will help Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GE Energy Inc to do nuclear business in India as both have Japanese investments.

Kalyani also suggested “review and strengthening” of the CEPA and quick implementation of the India-Japan Social Security Agreement, industry body CII said in a statement.

The long-mooted agreement is expected to allow Japan to export nuclear plant technologies to the subcontinent. Now we will have nuclear trade with them.

They are being assisted by the National Security Guard, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Central Para Military Forces and the state police.