India becomes 1st non-NPT country to sign nuclear deal with Japan

Tokyo: India and Japan on Friday signed the landmark civil nuclear agreement following the annual bilateral summit headed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Japan, on Friday met top Japanese business leaders and urged them to invest in India.

Here are the latest updates of his visit: –

Groundbreaking ceremony of bullet train in 2017

The nuclear deal will come into effect once Japan's Parliament ratifies it: Jaishankar

The signing of civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement is something that has taken us some time to negotiate for very understandable reasons. Indo-Japan nuclear pact has striking similarities with agreements India signed with the US and others: Jaishankar

Last two years witnessed a sharp increase in Japanese economic activities in India: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar

PM Narendra Modi thanks his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe for the support extended for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. 

The successful Malabar exercise has underscored the strategic convergence in the broad expanse of the waters of the Indo-Pacific, says Modi. He adds: "We are also united in our resolve to combat the menace of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism."

Our strategic partnership is not only for the good and security of our own societies. It also brings peace, stability and balance to region: PM Modi

The deal would allow Japan to export nuclear technology to India, making it the first non-NPT signatory to have such a deal with Tokyo. It would also cement the bilateral economic and security ties as the two countries warm up to counter an assertive China. Notably, there was political resistance in Japan - the only country to suffer atomic bombings during World War II - against a nuclear deal with India, particularly after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.

India, Japan sign landmark civil Nuclear Deal.

India, Japan sign landmark civil #NuclearDeal. #ModiInJapan pic.twitter.com/CC8X4sluHr — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 11, 2016

Delegation level talks between India and Japan begins at Kantei.

Tokyo: Delegation level talks between India and Japan begins at Kantei, the Prime Minister's Office. pic.twitter.com/0rk6HpzryA — ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

PM Narendra Modi welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Kantei.

PM Narendra Modi meets Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. 

Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr. Fumio Kishida met the Prime Minister in Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/6XrjzHSUzd — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 11, 2016

PM Narendra Modi meets Former Japan Prime Minister Yoshirō Mori.

Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the former PM of Japan had a meeting with the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/QvfEMTovcI — PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 11, 2016

Combo of your hardware & our software is fantastic; Let's march forward & explore bigger potentials and brighter prospects: PM Modi.

In 2 years, India is up by 32 places in global competitiveness index of world economic forum: PM.

FDI equity inflows have gone up by 52% in last 2 yrs; We have done substantial improvement on ease of doing business: PM Modi.

FDI equity inflows have gone up by 52% in last 2 yrs; We have done substantial improvement on ease of doing business: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/Bk25MClIz0 — ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

Japan has important role as India needs scale, speed and skill; Involvement in our mega projects signifies scale & speed: PM.

Want to make India the most open economy in the world: PM.

Lower labour costs, large domestic market and macro-economic stability combine to make India a very attractive investment destination: PM.

'Made in India' and 'Made by Japan' combination has started working wonderfully: PM.

Japan has emerged as the 4th largest source of FDI and that too in various fields: PM Modi

In 2015, the Indian economy grew faster than other major economies: PM.

In 2015, the Indian economy grew faster than other major economies: PM.

India and Japan will have to continue to play an imp role in Asia’s emergence: PM.

Asia has emerged as the new centre of global growth. This is because of its competitive manufacturing, and expanding markets: PM. 

PM Modi speaking at CII-KEIDANREN business luncheon in Tokyo.

PM concludes by inviting Japanese technology & experience to India - a land of prospects and assured market & human resources.

India's prowess in software is complemented by Japan's strength in hardware. Want to assure you that we'll provide a level playing field: PM.

India's prowess in software is complemented by Japan's strength in hardware. Want to assure you that we'll provide a level playing field: PM pic.twitter.com/47KuwPVjfE — ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

PM Modi stresses on 'Make in India', Innovation and technology transfer. This is meant to leverage the vast manpower India possesses, says PM.

India has conducive biz environment which Japan can take advantage of. Have taken steps to implement your suggestions: PM at IJBLF meeting.

PM Modi addresses IJBLF meeting; mentions his long standing ties with Japan since he was CM Gujarat.

Tokyo: PM Narendra Modi addresses IJBLF meeting; mentions his longstanding ties with Japan since he was CM Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/Un2T2J7a5G — ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

PM Modi and the CEOs of the India-Japan Business Leaders’ Forum take a group picture.

Tokyo: PM Narendra Modi and the CEOs of the India-Japan Business Leaders’ Forum take a group picture. pic.twitter.com/QTZ0dHQC2K — ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

PM Modi interacts with members of the India-Japan Business Leaders’ Forum in Tokyo. 

he nuclear deal - which is subject to ratification by the Japanese Parliament -- will allow Japan to supply nuclear reactors, fuel and technology. The two nations reached a broad agreement last December, said foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup.

PM Modi met Japanese Emperor Akihito Friday morning, ahead of his meeting with counterpart Shinzo Abe. The two Prime Ministers will hold wide-ranging talks.

Prime Minister Modi, who reached Tokyo after a brief stopover in Thai capital Bangkok to pay respects to revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last month, tweeted, "Looking forward to fruitful deliberations that will boost economic and cultural ties between India and Japan".

India is in advanced negotiations with US-based Westinghouse Electric, owned by Japan's Toshiba, to build six nuclear reactors in the south - a part of New Delhi's plan to ramp up nuclear capacity ten-fold by 2032.

The nuclear deal comes after long negotiations to find a way around Tokyo's reservations about such an agreement with a nation that hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, has sought assurances from New Delhi that it would not conduct nuclear tests any more.

The main accord is likely to be accompanied by a separate document stipulating that Tokyo will suspend nuclear cooperation if India conducts a nuclear test, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper reported. Initially, Japan wanted it to be part of the agreement, but India resisted, it said.

India has declared a moratorium on nuclear testing since its last explosions in 1998. The nation -- which has concerns about nuclear-armed China as well as its long-time rival Pakistan -- has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, contending that it is discriminatory.

The nuclear deal is seen as a step that will draw the two nations closer in the backdrop of concerns about a reduced US engagement in the South-east Asia following US President-elect Donald Trump's "America First" campaign promise.

India and Japan have also been trying to close a deal on the supply of amphibious rescue aircraft US-2 to the Indian navy, which would be one of Japan's first sales of military equipment since Prime Minister Abe lifted a 50-year ban on arms exports. 

With Agency inputs