New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe Monday pledged to realise the full potential of the India-Japan strategic and global partnership for continuing progress and prosperity for their people, according to the Tokyo declaration issued after their meeting.
The declaration said the two sides pledged to advance peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world, and elevate the India-Japan relationship to a special strategic and global partnership.
“The two prime ministers also decided to continue the practice of annual summits and to meet as often as possible on the margins of regional and multilateral meetings,” said the Tokyo Declaration for India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The two prime ministers also decided to intensify and invigorate exchanges recognising the special quality of bilateral engagement between India and Japan.
They affirmed the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council, especially its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make it more representative, legitimate, effective and responsive to the realities of the 21st century.
Modi and Abe decided to draw on the strength of their two countries’ shared values, convergent interests, and complementary skills and resources to build a strong partnership to promote economic and social development, capacity-building and infrastructure development in other interested countries and regions.
Abe affirmed a broader and stronger Japanese partnership for the Indian prime minister’s bold and ambitious vision for accelerating inclusive development in his country, particularly by transforming the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, the declaration said.
Both prime ministers noted with satisfaction the recent productive ministerial discussions in the fields of education, culture, sports, and science and technology.
They recognised that the two governments can truly harness the full potential of their relationship by seizing the vast opportunities for collaborating in science and technology, innovation, education, skill development and health.
Cutting edge fields such as life sciences, including stem cell research, material science, cognitive science, applied mathematics, computing and information science and ocean technology, would get special preference.