Yasuhisa bats for betterIndo-Japan economic ties
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 27 2014 : Yasuhisa Kawamura, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of Japan, New Delhi on Friday called for making joint efforts by the Governments of Japan and India to sort out the key issues of infrastructure development and capacity building to improve the Indo-Japan economic relations.

Yasuhisa was delivering a lecture on "Indo-Japan Relations with Reference to North Eastern Region" jointly organized by the Indo-Japan Friendship Association, Manipur and Centre for Japanese language Learning, Imphal at the Court Room of Manipur University here.

He said India and Japan have long-time good relations and the two Asian countries have maintained relationships on economic and health sectors which need to be promoted further.

Yasuhisa suggested that both countries need to chalk out a cooperative strategy to give the much-needed boost to their financial conditions and economic activities.

The Government of Japan has been discussing with the newly installed Indian Government at the Centre to find various ways to promote different programmes for bringing development, he said, adding that the Japanese Government is always ready to help India in taking up such programmes.

Yasuhisa stressed that the local government needs to take initiative in the forefront to improve the relations of the two countries, besides bringing development for the people at the regional level.

"I hope such local based policies will bring welfare for the North Eastern region of India," he said.

Saying that the Japanese people never forget the Imphal Battle of World War II that took place in 1944, Yasuhisa referred that the Indo-Japan diplomatic relations began since the signing of an agreement back in 1952 .

"Now it is time that the two countries work together to bring the diplomatic relations forward," Yasuhisa urged.

He also mentioned that the Prime Ministers of the two countries entered into a global partnership agreement in 2000.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India in 2007 and again in the current year and discussed with the Indian Government on various fronts, especially for bringing cooperative development, he reminded.

Referring to the political relations of the two countries, Yasuhisa mentioned that Japan and India conducted a joint maritime exercise in 2012-13, apart from annual coastguard exercise which started in 2000 .

Japan's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India was increased to USD 1 billion in 2001 while the trade volume was expanded from USD 3.7 billion in 2001 to USD 18.6 billion in 2012, Yasuhisa mentioned.

In the early part of 2014, PM Abe discussed with his Indian counterpart on the connectivity issue of the two countries, he further said and emphasized the importance of pacing up the action to resolve the issue at the earliest.

A total of 560 Indian students are currently studying in Japan while 100 Japanese students are pursuing higher studies in various Indian educational institutions, Yasuhisa said, but added that both the Governments need to pay attention to these students.

He assured that the Japan Foundation, a cultural organization, will be proposed to provide one Japanese teacher for the Japanese Language Certificate Course at the Manipur University.

Comment