Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Visit to India and Pakistan
(Summary and Outcome)

May 9, 2005

I. Itinerary

April 28 (Thursday)

April 29 (Friday)

April 30 (Saturday)

May 1 (Sunday)

II. Summary and Outcome

1. India

In the Japan-India summit, the two leaders agreed to add a strategic orientation to the Japan-India Global Partnership and to expand their bilateral cooperation to include cooperation in Asia and the world. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Singh signed a Joint Statement entitled "Japan-India Partnership in the New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of Japan-India Global Partnership" and issued an action plan under the title "Eight-fold Initiative for Strengthening Japan-India Global Partnership."

(1) Japan-India Summit

As leaders of responsible and capable major Asian countries in the new Asian era, the two Prime Ministers discussed measures to enhance bilateral relations and secure peace and prosperity in the Asian region as well as to realize United Nations (UN) reform.

(a) Bilateral cooperation

The two leaders were of the shared understanding that it was important to realize the potential of Japan-India relations. Prime Minister Singh voiced his interest in promoting bilateral cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, security, terrorism, energy security, academia, culture and IT in particular. Prime Minister Koizumi, expressing his intention to cooperate in the field of environment, stressed the importance of implementing the Joint Statement.

(b) Cooperation in Asia and cooperation on global-scale issues

Prime Minister Singh stated that it was necessary for Japan and India to cooperate in extending the prosperity of Japan and India to the whole of Asia and the international community. Prime Minister Singh also pointed out the great contribution that Japan and India have been making to the UN and expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation between the Group of Four (G4) countries for UN Security Council reform and its achievements thus far. Prime Minister Koizumi acknowledged the many areas of cooperation for Japan and India in Asia and the international community. Prime Minister Koizumi also stated that the advent of the G4 was an epoch-making achievement in Japan-India relations and further stated that it was important to carry out reforms which would adequately address the current developments in international affairs and that this opportunity for reform should not be missed.

(c) Regional situation

With regard to Japan's relation with China, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the current level of relationship between Japan and China are at its most vigorous since diplomatic relation between the two countries was established. Prime Minister Koizumi also stated that it was vital to maintain and strengthen its amicable relationship with China.

Prime Minister Singh in turn briefed Prime Minister Koizumi about Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's visit to India this April.

Prime Minister Singh also briefed Prime Minister Koizumi about India's relations with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Prime Minister Koizumi commended the recent efforts towards improving India-Pakistan relations.

(2) Courtesy call on President Abdul Kalam of India

Prime Minister Koizumi paid a courtesy call on President Abdul Kalam. In the meeting the Prime Minister pointed out that Japan-India relations have developed in an extremely friendly manner since the end of the war, and that he appreciated the warm welcome extended by the government and the people of India. Prime Minister Koizumi also stressed that there is great potential in their relations and that he would strive for the realization of such potentials.

President Kalam welcomed Prime Minister Koizumi's words before adding that Japan and India should go beyond their friendly relations, and develop further and closer relations in various areas including trade and cultural exchanges. The total trade volume between Japan and India currently stands at the 4 billion-dollar level, but the President expressed his belief that it is possible to expand this volume to 20 billion dollars or even 30 billion dollars within the next five years.

(3) Lunch hosted by industrial organizations of India

During the luncheon hosted by the industrial organizations of India, Prime Minister Koizumi stressed in his speech that Japan needed a prosperous and strong India and vice versa, by stating that Japan has India as a friend in Asia and by further stating that Japan and India's strategic interests are aligned in engaging challenges for the international community. The Prime Minister also pointed out that strengthening their economic relations was the crux in developing the Japan-India Global Partnership, and voiced his expectation for the business circles of Japan and India to further propagate the current positive economic developments.

There were also references from the other dignitaries of the reception (including Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath) that the trade volume between Japan and India should be expanded to 10 billion dollars in the next three years from the current 4.5 billion dollar level.

(4) Visits, tours, etc.

Prime Minister Koizumi made a tour to one of the symbolic ODA projects (Delhi subway project) which is contributing to the alleviation of traffic in the capital city and has thereby become the forms of strong appreciation by India towards the official development assistance (ODA) provided by Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi also visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute and offer flowers, before visiting a Delhi Public School and attending a brief interaction with the citizens of Japan and India.

2. Pakistan

Prime Minister Koizumi held a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. In the meetings, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that Japan would continue to provide assistance to Pakistan, which is striving to establish a moderate and modern Islamic state while playing a vital role in the fight against terrorism. Prime Minister Koizumi also noted that Japan would resume its yen loans to Pakistan. The two leaders reaffirmed that their countries would further strengthen their bilateral relations which have entered a new stage in various fields including politics and economy. As such, the two leaders issued a Joint Declaration entitled "Japan-Pakistan at a new frontier: Towards a renewed, enhanced and robust relationship," which marked the first political document that outlines the prospects for future bilateral relations.

(1) Meeting with President Pervez Musharraf

(a) Fight against terrorism

Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his respect for President Musharraf's resolute stance in the fight against terrorism. President Musharraf stated his resolve to continue his efforts in the fight against terrorism. President Musharraf also emphasized the need to deal with the root causes of terrorism through such means as poverty reduction and expressed his expectation for Japan to provide assistance in areas such as promotion of employment and expansion of investment. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi indicated that Japan would implement assistance through economic cooperation and resume yen loans to contribute to the measures taken by Pakistan and its stable development.

(b) Global issues

(i) Prime Minister Koizumi stated Japan's position regarding disarmament and nonproliferation. President Musharraf explained that the proliferation incident in which Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan played a part was an individual act in which neither the army nor the government was involved. President Musharraf mentioned that Pakistan would continue to develop a system to prevent such recurrence and that it would implement thorough controls as well as immediately sharing any new information that would come to light. The two leaders were of a shared understanding on the goal of the abolition of nuclear weapons.

(ii) With regard to UN reform, Prime Minister Koizumi explained the significance of UN reform including that of the Security Council. Prime Minister Koizumi also explained Japan's stance on this matter. President Musharraf remarked that, although Pakistan could not agree in principle to the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council, it is in favor of Japan.

(2) Meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

(a) Bilateral relations

(i) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that Japan would continue to provide assistance to Pakistan and that it would resume the provision of yen loans as a part of such efforts. Prime Minister Aziz remarked that the people and the government of Pakistan greatly appreciated the technical and financial cooperation Japan has provided thus far. Prime Minister Aziz also presented Prime Minister Koizumi with a commemorative stamp issued by the Government of Pakistan marking the 50th anniversary of ODA and requested expansion of technical cooperation provided by Japan.

(ii) Prime Minister Aziz stated that he expected an increase in trade and investment from Japan as well as in the numbers of Japanese tourists. Prime Minister Koizumi stated his willingness to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields including politics and economy and expressed his wish to cooperate in promoting tourism.

(b) Others

(i) Prime Minister Aziz expressed his expectation for Japan's cooperation towards the international natural gas pipeline plan in which Pakistan was involved. Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the advancement of science and technology was vital in striking a balance between economic development and environmental issues.

(ii) Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his wish that Prime Minister Aziz could visit Japan on the occasion of the National Day for Pakistan at the 2005 Aichi World Exposition.

(3) Visits

Prime Minister Koizumi visited with Prime Minister Aziz an exhibition of products made by Japanese companies in Pakistan (automobiles, home electronic appliances, etc.). The two leaders had a chance to listen to opinions from those affiliated with the relevant companies and had an exchange of views on the recent economic trends in Pakistan as well as bilateral economic relations.

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