INDIA-JAPAN RELATIONS FOREIGN RELATIONS

INDIA-JAPAN RELATIONS

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

Exchange between Japan and India is said to have begun in the sixth 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 the 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.

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

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.

In 1949 Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru donated an Indian elephant to the Ueno Zoo, in Tokyo. This brought a ray of light into the lives of the Japanese children still 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 and was mourned by many.

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.

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.

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 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'.

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.

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 to 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 exchange since 1978. Japan has been extending cultural grand 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.

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 Japan and India 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 21^st Century".

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 Japan and India 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.

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 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.

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. 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. Shinzo Abe. He addressed a Joint Session of the Diet on December 14, 2006. Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Koji Omi, Minister for Finance and Mr. Akira Amari, Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Mr. Akihiro Ota, Chief Representative of New Komeito Party called on the Prime Minister called on the PM. Mr. Yoshiro Mori, former Prime Minister and President of Indo-Japanese Association and Dr. Taro Nakayama, President of Japan-Indo Parliamentarians Friendship League called on the PM.

During the visit, the two Prime Ministers unveiled the Joint Logo and launched the India-Japan Friendship Year 2007 and attended the inaugural event of the Festival of India in Japan on December 14, 2006. Prime Minister also addressed the business organisations of Japan at a luncheon meeting.

A Joint Statement - Towards India Japan Strategic and Global Partnership was signed by the two Prime Ministers. A Joint Ministerial Statement on the launching of a Joint Task Force (JTF) to develop an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)/Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Japan was issued.

The dynamic growth of this relationship is reflected in the number of high-level exchanges that have taken place in last two years. Our Ministers, including Defence Minister, Finance Minister, Commerce Minister and S&T Minister visited Japan in 2006. In 2007, External Affairs Minister, Commerce Minister, Textile Minister, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Chief Minister of Gujarat, National Security Adviser, Tourism and Culture Minister, Minister for Urban Development, etc. have visited Japan. Likewise, there have been a large number of ministerial visits from Japan to India, including Foreign Minister, METI Minister, MLIT Minister, Internal and Communications, Agriculture and Finance Ministers and Former PM Mr. Mori. In 2008, Finance Minister There have been similarly enhanced exchanges of Parliamentary delegations and interactions at provincial and official level. 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.

Former Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Akie Abe, visited India from August 21-23, 2007. During his visit he called on President of India and met with Prime Minister of India. External Affairs Minister and the Leader of the Opposition called on Japanese PM. Mr. Abe addressed the Members of Parliament. A 200-member strong business delegation accompanied Japanese Prime Minister during the visit. The first meeting of the Business Leaders' Forum was held and presented a report to two PMs. Prime Minister Mr. Abe attended the meeting for university collaboration which was held with the participation of Vice Chancellors/Presidents of prominent universities of both countries. 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.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met Prime Minister Mr. Yasuo Fukuda on the sidelines of the EAS Summit held in Singapore in November, 2007.

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.

India-Japan Bilateral visits

Japan to India

India to Japan