India, Japan reiterate their support to East Asia Summit

TOKYO - India and Japan on Monday reiterated their support for the East Asia Summit (EAS) as an open, inclusive, transparent and outward-looking forum.

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who held extensive talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest here today, reaffirmed their support for the East Asia Summit (EAS) as an open, inclusive, transparent and outward-looking forum, striving to strengthen global norms and universally recognized values and promoting peace, stability and prosperity across East Asia, of which India and Japan are key members.

Both the leaders, in this context, welcomed the recent decision of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers to invite the United States and the Russian Federation to join as members of the EAS.

They also supported existing achievements such as Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA) and its three-pillar approach for regional cooperation.

They welcomed Japan’s Concept Paper “Initial Steps towards Regional Economic Integration in East Asia: A Gradual Approach”. Besides, they also welcomed ERIA’s “Comprehensive Asian Development Plan”, and recognized the importance of hard infrastructure and industrial policy in the Mekong-India Corridor Study, whose implementation could be further discussed between relevant authorities and entities.

According to the joint statement issued today, both the leaders discussed ways for enhancing greater economic integration and connectivity between India and the East Asian region.

They encouraged their officials to examine studies undertaken by ERIA and other think-tanks in the East Asia region relating to transport and industrial development corridors in the peninsular region of India. Prime Minister Singh noted with appreciation Japan’s initiative for an East Asian Community, in which India is expected to play an important role. (ANI)