Japan to build first bullet train in India

Japan and India agreed several high-profile deals Saturday including on high-speed rail, defence technology and civil nuclear cooperation, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in New Delhi.

Japan will provide $12 billion of soft loans to build India’s first bullet train, the two nations announced during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that also yielded deeper defense ties and a plan for civil nuclear cooperation.

“Prime Minister Modi’s economic policies are like Shinkansen – high speed, safe and reliable while carrying many people along”, the Japanese premier said in a reference to the Japanese bullet train. The two sides also inked 16 agreements, including ones concerning the transfer of defence equipment, nuclear technology and security measures for protection of classified military information.

Abe said, according to local newspaper Times of India, “We have taken relationship to a new level”, adding: “With a view to supporting growth of India, both public and private sector of Japan will act in unison”.

“In recognition of our special relationship, India will extend “visa on arrival” to all Japanese citizens from 1st March 2016″. Japan’s trade with India is about 5 percent of its commerce with China, and less than 25 percent of India-China trade.

Besides, the two countries signed a deal that would help India’s efforts to upgrade its military equipment.

The agreements were signed after a bilateral summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the national capital.

The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Japan past year, and the commitment of 35 billion dollars of investment made by Japan.

Tokyo’s decision to enter into nuke talks with New Delhi sparked off strong reactions from the anti-nuclear activists in Japan, as India did not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

He said that in the case of Japan it involved the consideration by the Diet or the Japanese parliament.

He said that by substantive agreement, it meant that both India and Japan have agreed on various provisions which were in an agreement.

They also supported the strengthening of worldwide cooperation to address the challenges of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism.

Asked whether it was a framework agreement, he said “we have concluded the negotiations” but added certain legal and technical issues will have to be thrashed out for the final pact.

“We will also strive for our rightful place in a reformed UN Security Council”.

“I expect India will act responsibly and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes”, Abe said during a press conference.