Gandhinagar, September 14: India and Japan on Thursday afternoon hold the bilateral talks and signed whopping 15 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) which will strengthen the economy of both the countries and will further deepen cooperation. Notably, the 15 MoUs that are signed by both India and Japan will bring investments worth Rs 1 lakh crore in the country.
The MoUs that are signed by both India and Japan are in the fields of disaster risk management, skill development, connectivity, economic and commercial, investment in Gujarat, civil aviation, science and technology, sports and academics or think tank.
After the MoUs were signed, PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinjo Abe condemned North Korea's continued development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs in the strongest terms. The two leaders during the joint press conference also called Pakistan to bring to justice perpetrators of terror attacks including 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot attacks. Both the leaders also looked forward to convening 5th Japan-India consultation on terrorism and to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al-Qaida, ISIS, JeM, LeT and their affiliates.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinjo Abe further reiterated strong support to initiatives like Make in India, Digital India etc and also appreciated PM Modi's economic reforms mainly GST. “India, Japan & US conducted joint training maritime exercise Malabar for the first time, based on strong ties of trust between PM Modi, US President Trump and will further deepen this cooperation,” he added. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality given by India and concluded saying ‘Dhanyawaad’.
Speaking on the occasion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi firstly welcomed the agreements signed which will strengthen India-Japan partnership effectively. PM Modi said in 2016-17 Japan invested 4.7 billion dollars in India which is 80% higher than last year.
PM Modi further noted that he urged Japanese business community to open a maximum number of Japanese restaurant chains in India and asserted be it the ease of doing business, Skill India or Make in India as a country is transforming.
Before, bilateral talk and signing of MoUs, PM Modi and Japans PM Shinjo Abe visited Mahatma Mandir. Earlier in the day, Japanese Prime Minister Shinjo Abe and PM Modi jointly laid the foundation stone for the high-speed bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai which will cover a distance of over 500 km in around two hours.
List of MoUs/Agreements signed during the visit of Prime Minister of Japan to India
Disaster Risk Management:
MOC between the Ministry of Home Affairs, of the Government of the Republic of India and the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan- Aims to cooperate and collaborate in the field of disaster risk reduction and to share the experiences, knowledge and policies on disaster prevention.
Skills Development:
MoC in the field of Japanese Language Education in India between MEA and MOFA, Japan - To further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in the field of Japanese language education in India.
Connectivity:
India Japan Act East Forum - To enhance connectivity and promote developmental projects in the North Eastern Region of India in an efficient and effective manner.
Economic & Commercial:
The arrangement between India Post and Japan Post on Administrative Instruction for the Implementation of Cool EMS service - Aims at implementing the commercial arrangement of "Cool EMS” service between the Japan Post and India Post through which fresh food can be sent from Japan to India in cool boxes to facilitate for the Japanese expatriates in India.
Investment (Gujarat):
India, Japan Investment Promotion Road map between DIPP and METI - To facilitate and accelerate the Japanese investments in India.
MOC between METI and the State of Gujarat on ‘Japan-India special programme for Make In India’ in Mandal Bechraj-Khoraj in Gujarat - To Cooperate in infrastructure development programmes in the Mandal Bechraj-Khorajregion.
Civil Aviation:
Exchange of RoD on Civil Aviation Cooperation (Open Sky) - It opens skies between India and Japan i.e. Indian and Japanese carriers can mount now an unlimited number of flights to the selected cities of each other’s countries.
Science & Technology:
Agreement for the International joint exchange programme between interdisciplinary theoretical and mathematical sciences programme (iTHEMS), RIKEN and National Centres for Biological Sciences (Simons-NCBS) - To establish a Joint Exchange Program to identify and foster talented young scientists from both the countries to collaborate in the field of theoretical biology.
Joint Research Contract between National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) - To conduct joint research and to establish an International Center named as "DBT-AISTInternational CENter for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER)” at AIST, Japan in order to promote science and technology in both the institutions and countries.
MOU Between DBT and National Institute of Advanced Science & Technology (AIST) - To promote research collaboration between DBT Research Institutes and AIST in the field of Life Science and Biotechnology.
Sports:
MoU on International Academic and Sports Exchange between Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE)and Nippon Sports Science University, Japan (NSSU) - To facilitate and deepen international education cooperation and exchanges between Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, India and Nippon Sports Science University, Japan.
MoU on International Academic and Sports Exchange between Sports Authority of India and Nippon Sports Science University, Japan (NSSU) - To facilitate and deepen international education cooperation and exchanges between both Sports Authority of India and Nippon Sports Science University, Japan.
LETTER OF INTENT between Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) and University of Tsukuba, Japan - To strengthen strategic collaboration, joint research programme and exchanges between Lakshmi bai National Institute of Physical Education, India and University of Tsukuba, Japan.
LETTER OF INTENT between Sports Authority of India and the University of Tsukuba, Japan - To strengthen strategic collaboration, joint research programme and exchanges between the university of Tsukuba, Japan and Sports Authority of India.
Academics/Think Tank:
MoU between RIS and IDE-JETRO for a promotion of Cooperation in Research Related Activities - To promote institutional cooperation between RIS and IDE-JETRO to strengthen the capacity of the research and effectiveness of dissemination of research findings.
On Wednesday, PM Modi held an 8-km road show with his counterpart Shinjo Abe and his wife in Ahmedabad. The road show, which began from Ahmedabad airport ended at the Sabarmati Ashram. The road show, designed to showcase India's cultural diversity, saw artists from several states performing on 28 stages erected by the roadside.
The visiting dignitaries and PM Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the ashram where the Father of the Nation lived for about 12 years. The three dignitaries later sat for some time by the serene Sabarmati Riverfront, developed by PM Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
PM Modi also hosted dinner for his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie at a famous Agashiye restaurant, known for its elegance and kosher Gujarati cuisine. PM Modi and the Abe couple also visited the 16th century Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in evening and enjoyed the performance of musical instrument Jal Tarang.