Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe agreed to enhance the cooperation of their countries in maritime affairs during their talks here on Monday.
In a joint statement issued by both countries, India and Japan directed the Joint Working Group to accelerate progress in the discussions and preparations for a road map for the development of the Indian aircraft industry through US-2 amphibian aircraft cooperation including the transfer of the aircraft and its technology to India.
India expressed its intention to strengthen defence equipment and technology cooperation and conveyed its interests in this regard. Both countries decided to discuss further to identify future areas of cooperation, taking into consideration specific interests.
Both countries also welcomed the Dialogue between the Director General of Indian Coast Guard and the Commandant of Japan Coast Guard and the joint exercise between Indian and Japanese Coast Guards conducted off the coast of Kochi in January 2014. Further, both sides expressed their desire to further promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation on maritime issues and decided to hold the next bilateral dialogue in Tokyo and joint exercise off the coast of Haneda between Indian and Japanese Coast Guards in October 2014.
Prime Minister Modi, who is also scheduled to meet Emperor Akihito, is presently on a three-day visit to Japan that will conclude on September 3.