Countries & Regions

On Saturday, May 4, H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister of State for financial services, who is visiting India to attend the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank’s Board of Governors and other meetings, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. The overview of the meeting is as follows. The courtesy call was also attended by His Excellency Mr. Shri Chidambaram, Minister of Finance of India.

1. Opening

   (1) Prime Minister Singh stated that he looked forward to visiting Japan and meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Regarding the state visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Prime Minister Singh stated that he most heartily looked forward to welcoming Their Majesties to India.

   (2) Upon Prime Minister Singh’s inquiry, Deputy Prime Minister Aso explained about the economic policy of the Abe administration.

2. Bilateral relations

   (1) Prime Minister Singh stated that various dialogues and cooperative mechanisms between the two countries were functioning, and cooperation in a wide range of fields such as politics, security, and economic cooperation was deepening, based on the Japan-India Global Strategic Partnership. Noting that the Delhi Metro is a symbolic project for both countries. Deputy Prime Minister Aso stated that he looked forward to continuing to cooperate on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and industrial corridors.

   (2) In response, Deputy Prime Minister Aso noted that the number of Japanese companies expanding into India was about to reach 1,000, and requested further relaxation of regulations, including the relaxation of financial regulations, under the leadership of Prime Minister Singh in order to encourage further investment from Japan. Deputy Prime Minister Aso stated that this would lead to the enhanced advancement of cooperative projects such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

   (3) Prime Minister Singh stated that he intends to continue to develop the economic relationship with Japan, and that in doing so, expressed hope to further promote and diversify cooperation in the private sector and see economic relations of an even more complementary nature.

   (4) In terms of specific areas, both sides shared the view that cooperation would be continued in such fields as high-speed rail way system, rare earths, civil nuclear cooperation, and academic cooperation.

   (5) In addition, the two shared the view that security in the Indian Ocean was an important issue for both countries, and that cooperation would be continued in this regard.

3. Regional situation

   The two exchanged views on situations in East Asia and on other international issues.