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INDIA-JAPAN RELATIONS


Historical background

India's relations with Japan are singularly free of any kind of dispute -
ideological, cultural or territorial. It is unique and one of warmth emanating from
generous gestures and sentiments of standing by each other at times of need.

2. Exchanges between India and Japan are said to have begun in the 6th
century A.D., when Buddhism was introduced to Japan. Indian culture, filtered
through Buddhism, has impacted on Japanese culture and thought, and this is the
source of Japanese people's sense of closeness with India. Direct exchange in the
modern era, however, began only in the Meiji era (1868-1912), when Japan
embarked on the process of modernization.

3. Japan's image in India has historically been positive, going back to the early
20th century when its emergence as a big power was interpreted by India as the
beginning of Asian resurgence. Japanese support and assistance to Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA) continue to shape
popular thinking about Japan.

4. The immediate post independence experience was no less positive, with
the Tokyo tribunal, waiving of reparations, conclusion of a separate Peace Treaty,
the Asian Games and extension of yen loans. This spirit was visible as well in
1991, in Japan's support during India's balance of payments crisis.

5. In 1949 Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gifted an Indian elephant to the
Ueno Zoo, in Tokyo. This brought a ray of light into the lives of the Japanese
children suffering from the aftermath of World War II. The elephant, named Indira
after Nehru's daughter, died of old age in August 1983. Her death was widely
covered in the Japanese Press.

6. In the collective Indian perception, there was a strong admiration for
Japan's post-war economic reconstruction and subsequent rapid growth. This was
reaffirmed a generation later by the unique role of Maruti-Suzuki in revolutionizing
industrial technology and management concepts in the pre-economic reform India.
Somewhere in Indian thinking was embedded respect for a society which engaged
the world on its own terms and preserved its unique character through a process
of upheaval and change.

7. The intuitive feeling about Japan was one of friendliness and it was not
without reason that Japan consistently ranked as the most admired nation in
Indian newspaper polls for a number of years.

8. Popular goodwill in both societies has been a notable element in the
relationship. In Japan, it is not uncommon to hear politicians refer warmly to India's
declaration of mourning at the time of demise of the Showa Emperor. Japanese
businessmen active in steel, textiles or trading are nostalgic as they recall their
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Indian connections during the reconstruction period. Even varied sections of the
intelligentsia saw much good in our society - the traditionalists as the source of
Buddhism, the philosophers and academics as a great intellectual tradition, the
post war centre-left admired the Nehruvian approach, while the right wing still kept
alive memories of the INA. Surprisingly, the most pervasive Indian presence was
gastronomic, through a Japanese concoction known as 'curry rice'.

9. Since diplomatic relations between Japan and India were established in
1952, the two countries have enjoyed cordial relations based on trade and
economic and technical cooperation. The cultural agreement between Japan and
India was signed in 1956 and took effect the following year. In 1951, India
established a scholarship system for overseas students. This system to this day
provides an opportunity for young Japanese scholars who are today in the
forefront of Indian studies to study in India.

10. Cultural exchanges picked up in the 1980s with Japanese local
governments becoming involved in exchange activities with their Indian
counterparts and traditional Indian performing arts being shown in Japan. The
Japan Month was held in October and November 1987. Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi attended the April 1988 opening ceremony of the Festival of India. In
January 1994, the Japan Foundation opened an office in New Delhi that is actively
engaged in cultural exchanges since 1978. Japan has been extending cultural
grant-in-aid to research institutes, universities, and cultural faculties to encourage
their activities. In addition, through the UNESCO/Japan Trust Fund for
Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage, Japan is helping with the preservation
and restoration of the Buddhist monuments of Sanchi and Satdhara by sending
experts and in other ways.

11. At the beginning of the 21
st
century, Japan and India resolved to take their
bilateral relationship to a qualitatively new level. Both realize that the current
international situation, characterized by inter-dependence and the advent of
globalization, offers fresh opportunities to both India and Japan for enhanced
engagement for mutual benefit. The foundation for this was laid when Mr. Yoshiro
Mori, the then Prime Minister of Japan and Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, the then
Prime Minister of India agreed during the Japanese Prime Minister's landmark visit
to India in August 2000 to establish the "Global Partnership in the 21st Century".

12. Today, India and Japan share a global vision of peace, stability and shared
prosperity, based on sustainable development. Shared democratic values and
commitment to human rights, pluralism, open society, and the rule of law underpin
the global partnership between the two countries. The global partnership between
India and Japan reflects a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic
and strategic interests, aspirations, objectives and concerns. Japan and India view
each other as partners that have responsibility for, and are capable of, responding
to global and regional challenges in keeping with their global partnership. A strong,
prosperous and dynamic India is, therefore, in the interest of Japan and vice
versa. In the above context and in view of the current international situation, it has
been decided to reinforce the strategic focus of the global partnership between
Japan and India.

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13. Japan and India are partners in peace, with a common interest in and
complementary responsibility for promoting the security, stability and prosperity of
Asia as well as in advancing international peace and equitable development. It
was agreed during the visit of the then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
in April 2005 that the two countries would further strengthen their cooperation and
pursue an all round and comprehensive development of bilateral relations, with a
particular and urgent focus on strengthening economic ties, through full utilization
of the existing and potential complementarities in their economies. It was decided
that both the countries would strive to develop closer dialogue and collaboration to
secure peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, promote democracy and
development, and explore a new architecture for closer regional cooperation in
Asia. It was also agreed that the two countries would strengthen cooperation in
diverse areas such as environment, energy, disarmament, non-proliferation and
security, taking advantage of, and further building on, their strategic convergences.

Annual Summits

14. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh paid an official visit to Japan from
December 13 to 16, 2006 at the invitation of the then Prime Minister of Japan, Mr.
Shinzo Abe. The visit took place against the backdrop of a marked upturn in India-
Japan relations, particularly since former Prime Minister Koizumi's visit in 2005.
During the visit, the two Prime Ministers launched the India-Japan Friendship Year
2007 and attended the inaugural event of the Festival of India in Japan on
December 14, 2006. A Joint Statement - Towards India Japan Strategic and
Global Partnership - was signed by the two Prime Ministers.

15. The dynamic growth of this relationship is reflected in the number of high
level ministerial and parliamentary exchanges that have been taking place at
regular intervals. There is a parallel process of business and industry in both
countries taking note of the opportunities that recent economic developments in
India have created for them. That has led to a very sharp increase in exchange of
business delegations.

16. Former Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe, accompanied by his
spouse, Mrs. Akie Abe, visited India from 21-23 August 2007. A Joint Statement
on "the Roadmap for New Dimensions to the Strategic and Global Partnership
between India and Japan" and a Joint Statement on the Enhancement of
Cooperation on Environmental Protection and Energy Security were signed. Mr.
Abe visited Kolkata and attended the opening ceremony of the India - Japan
Cultural Centre. Chief Minister of West Bengal called on Mr. Abe.

17. PM Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Japan for the G-8 Summit from 7-9 July
2008. He participated in the G-5 Leaders meeting on 8 July, G-8, G-5 and MEM
meetings on 9 July and a BRICs meeting on 9 July. He had a bilateral meeting
with PM Fukuda on 9 July.

18. PM Dr. Manmohan Singh paid an Official Working Visit to Tokyo from 21-23
October 2008. This was Indian PMs second bilateral visit to Japan as Prime
Minister, and was part of our regular annual summit which has been agreed
between the two countries and which has been carrying on every year since then.
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PM and Smt. Gursharan Kaur had an audience with Their Majesties the Emperor
and the Empress of Japan. He held extensive talks with Prime Minister Mr. Taro
Aso. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry
called on PM. Leaders from the New Komeito Party and the Democratic Party of
Japan also called on PM. He had a breakfast meeting with Mr. Yoshiro Mori,
former Prime Minister and President of Japan India Association and Mr. Shinzo
Abe, former PM. He attended a reception in his honour by the Japan-India
Association and the Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League. Former PM
Mr. Yoshiro Mori, Former PM Mr. Yasuo Fukuda and Dr. Taro Nakayama,
President of Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League were present at the
reception. PM addressed a business luncheon hosted by Nippon Keidanren. The
second India-Japan Business Leaders Forum was held and recommendations by
the Forum were presented to the Prime Ministers. A Joint Declaration on Security
Cooperation and a Joint Statement on the Advancement of Strategic and Global
Partnership between India and Japan were signed.

19. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama visited India for the Annual Summit
from 27 to 29 December 2009. A Joint Statement on New Stage of Japan-India
Strategic and Global Partnership was signed. Both the Prime Ministers
expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the Annual Strategic Dialogue between
the Foreign Ministers, as well as other policy dialogues at Ministerial level. PM
Hatoyama also held meetings with businessmen including those of Japanese
corporations operating in India. He also met with Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, President of
the Indian National Congress Party.

20. PM Dr. Manmohan Singh paid an Official Working Visit to Tokyo from 24-26
October, 2010 for the Annual Bilateral Summit. This landmark visit has imparted a
further momentum and continuity to the India-Japan Strategic and Global
Partnership. PM accompanied by Smt. Gursharan Kaur had an audience with
Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress of Japan. He also held extensive
talks, both at restricted and delegation level, with Prime Minister Mr. Naoto Kan.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
called on PM. Opposition Leaders from Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito
Party and Your Party also called on PM.

21. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Mrs. Hitomi Noda paid a State visit to
India from 27-29 December 2011. During the visit, PM Noda delivered an address
at the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA) and attended a luncheon meeting
hosted by the apex chambers of commerce and industry. He also called on the
Vice President of India and held a Summit meeting with Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh, followed by a joint press conference and a banquet hosted by
the PM. The two Prime Ministers also signed a Joint Statement entitled "Vision for
the Enhancement of Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership upon entering
the year of the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Annual Strategic Dialogues

22. EAM Shri Pranab Mukherjee visited Japan from 22-23 March 2007 for the
first Annual Strategic Dialogue. He exchanged views with FM Aso on bilateral
relations, regional and international issues. EAM also called on PM Shinzo Abe
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during the visit. FM Mr. Masahiko Koumura visited India on 4-5 August 2008 for
the second Annual Strategic Dialogue. EAM Shri S. M. Krishna visited Japan from
3-5 July 2009 for the third Annual Strategic Dialogue. He had a fruitful exchange of
views with FM Nakasone on bilateral issues as well as various regional &
international issues. He also called on PM Taro Aso. During his visit, EAM also
inaugurated the new chancery building of the Embassy. The negotiations on a
Civil Nuclear Cooperation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy started in Tokyo
in June 2010. On 21 August 2010, FM Okada visited India to attend the 4
th
Annual
Strategic Dialogue and held discussions on a wide range of issues including
bilateral, regional and global issues with EAM Shri S.M. Krishna. He also called
on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during the visit. EAM Shri S.M. Krishna,
accompanied by an official delegation, visited Japan from 28-30 October 2011 for
the 5th Annual Strategic Dialogue. Foreign Minister Gemba, accompanied by
METI Minister Edano, visited India from 29-30 April 2012 for participating in the 6th
India-Japan Strategic Dialogue and the first India-Japan Ministerial-level Economic
dialogue and 2
nd
Japan-India Multilateral Business Government Dialogue.

Defence Dialogues

23. Defence Minister Shri A. K. Antony visited Japan from 8-10 November,
2009 and met his Japanese counterpart Mr. Toshimi Kitazawa for a
comprehensive review of Defence cooperation issues. He again visited Japan for
the India-Japan Defence Ministers meeting on 2-3 November 2011.

Two-plus-Two Dialogues

24. As agreed by the Prime Ministers of both India and Japan at the Annual
Summit in December 2009, the 1
st
India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue was held in New
Delhi in July 2010. The 2
nd
India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue was held on 22 October
2012 in Tokyo. Both sides exchanged views on wide ranging issues including
bilateral, global and regional issues.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

25. On 16 February 2011, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement was signed by Minister of Commerce and Industry Mr. Anand Sharma
and Japanese Foreign Minister Mr. Seiji Maehara. A Joint Statement Vision for
India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership in the Next Decade and a Joint
Declaration on the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) were signed by the two Prime Ministers in Tokyo in October 2010.

Parliamentary Exchanges

26. Speaker of Lok Sabha Smt. Meira Kumar, accompanied by a Parliamentary
delegation visited Japan from 2-6 October 2011 at the invitation of the Japanese
Diet. During the visit, she visited Kobe, Hiroshima and Tokyo. In Kobe, she met
with the small Indian community and interacted with them. In Hiroshima, she
visited the Peace Memorial and the Peace Museum. In Tokyo, she had interactive
meetings with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Takahiro
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Yokomichi, an audience with Their Majesties and a call on the Prime Minister Mr.
Yoshihiko Noda.

27. Under the parliamentary exchanges programme between India and Japan,
a delegation of India-Japan Parliamentary Forum consisting of six Members of
Parliament visited Japan from 25 September to 1 October 2011, and another
delegation of six Members of Parliament, sponsored by the Sasakawa Peace
Foundation also visited Japan from 16-22 October, 2011.

60
th
Anniversary Celebrations

28. There have been exchanges of several bilateral visits in 2012, being the
60th anniversary of the establishment of India-Japan diplomatic relations. Minister
of Tourism, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai visited Japan from 5-8 February 2012 to
attend the inaugural ceremony of the 63rd international Snow Festival at Sapporo,
Hokkaido. During the visit, he called on the Governor of Hokkaido and hosted an
"India Evening" in connection with the inauguration of the Sapporo Snow Festival
where a replica of Taj Mahal was built by the Hokkaido Broadcasting Corporation.
He again visited Japan from 16-20 April 2012 to attend the 12th World Meet with
Tourism Stakeholders in Osaka.

Indias assistance during the March 11 Earthquake & Tsunami

29. In the wake of the devastation caused by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake
and the subsequent tsunami on 11 March in north-eastern and eastern Japan,
letters of condolence and sympathy were sent by PM and EAM to their
counterparts in Japan. PM made a statement in Parliament on 14 March
expressing full solidarity for the people of Japan. Relief material consisting of
25,000 blankets, 10,000 bottles of mineral water and 10 tons of high-energy
biscuits were sent to Japan. A 46-member Indian Relief and Rehabilitation Team
from the National Disaster Management Authority was dispatched to Japan. The
highly specialized team carried out relief operations in the coastal town of
Onagawa, which came under the direct impact of tsunami waves. Their work has
been much appreciated by the Japanese authorities, local people and the
Japanese media.

30. Japan and India are both in the process of globalizing, each of course in
their own way, and responding to their compulsions. Ultimately, what is important
is that the underlying sentiment is one of convergence rather than of competition.
Healthy bilateral relations have a natural downstream flow in terms of international
cooperation and in creating a positive ambience in the continent and beyond.

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November 2012