New Delhi: India on Friday discussed with
Japan, reeling under its worst nuclear crisis in the past six
decades, "various aspects" related to atomic energy.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, the first high-level
official to visit Japan after last month`s twin disaster, also
offered India`s assistance in "any way required", to which the
Japanese side expressed its appreciation for the help provided
to it so far.
Rao held discussions with Japanese Vice-Foreign
Minister Kenichiro Sasae and Deputy Foreign Minister Koro
Bessho in Tokyo during which she also conveyed that India had
not yet taken a decision on banning Japanese food imports, a
release from the Ministry of External Affairs said here.
India will consult Japan prior to taking a decision on
the advisory issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India, she told the Japanese side.
Pointing to the importance of nuclear power as a clean
source of energy for India`s continued growth, the two sides
exchanged views on various aspects related to nuclear energy.
"Both sides will continue to discuss the way forward for
cooperation in this sphere," the release said.
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake on March 11 devastated
northeast Japan and damaged the atomic facility at Fukushima
that is presently the centre of the country`s worst nuclear
crisis since World War II. The nuclear mishaps in Japan raised
question about the safety of nuclear plants in India, forcing
government to come out with a report on the issue.
Rao held constructive and useful discussions on
bilateral, regional and global issues during which both sides
agreed to have Ministerial-level Economic Dialogue apart from
initiating an India-Japan-US trilateral dialogue.
"The two sides agreed that the new Ministerial-level
Economic Dialogue, announced by the Prime Ministers at their
Annual Summit in Tokyo in October 2010, will be led by the
Foreign Ministers of the two countries. The first meeting of
the Dialogue will take place later this year," it said.
It was also agreed to establish an India-Japan-United
States trilateral dialogue on regional and global issues of
shared interest. These consultations, agreed to earlier by the
US, will be conducted by the Foreign Ministries of the three
countries.
She also called on Foreign Minister Takeaki
Matsumoto.
PTI
