India, Japan signs historic nuclear deal

Signing a landmark civil nuclear cooperation deal with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the agreement for cooperation will mark a historic step in the engagement to build a clean energy partnership between both nations.

"A landmark deal for a cleaner, greener world! PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo witness exchange of the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi said India sees Japan as a natural partner in the aim to be major centre for manufacturing, investments and 21st century knowledge industries.

"It is clear that our cooperation has progressed on multiple fronts. The Agreement for cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy marks a historic step in our engagement to build a clean energy partnership," Prime Minister Modi said.

He said that strategic partnership is not only for the good and security of own societies, but it also brings peace, stability and balance to region.

Prime Minister Modi also said that both the nation have united to combat the menace of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism.

Speaking about implementation of visa-on-arrival policy, he said since March 2016 India has extended 'Visa-On Arrival' facility to Japanese nationals and have also extended a 10-year visa to businesspersons.

The present agreement provides for bilateral cooperation in the field of Nuclear Energy. This would provide for the development of nuclear power projects in India and thus strengthening of energy security of the country. The present agreement would open up the door for collaboration between Indian and Japanese industries in our Civil Nuclear programme.

The deal would allow Japan to export nuclear technology to India, making it the first non-NPT signatory to have such a deal with Tokyo. It would also cement the bilateral economic and security ties as the two countries warm up to counter anassertive China.

Japan is a major player in the nuclear energy market and an atomic deal with it will make it easier for US-based nuclear plant makers Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GE Energy Inc to set up atomic plants in India as both these conglomerates have Japanese investments.