PM set to ink nuclear deal with Japan

India and Japan are likely to sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the country next week as the two sides have completed the internal procedures for the much- awaited agreement.

The two countries had sealed a broad agreement for cooperation in civil nuclear energy during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit here last December but the final deal is yet to be signed as certain technical and legal issues are to be trashed out.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said both the countries have completed the internal procedures, including legal and technical aspects of the text of the pact. When specifically asked whether the pact will be inked during Modi’s two-day visit beginning November 11, he only said, “I can’t pre-judge outcome of the talks.”

According to news agency reports, there was a political resistance in Japan to go ahead with a nuclear deal with India, particularly after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.

Japan is a major player in the nuclear energy market and an atomic deal with it will also 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.

During the visit, Mr Modi will have an audience with the Emperor of Japan and hold the annual summit meeting with his counterpart Shinzo Abe. Ahead of his trip, a delegation of Japanese parliamentarians, which was led by Toshihiro Nikai, called on Mr Modi on Thursday. Mr Swarup said the PM recalled his interaction with the Japan-India Parliamentarians’ Friendship League in September, and welcomed increased interaction between the legislatures of both countries.

“The PM welcomed Nikai’s initiative to raise awareness about the threat posed by tsunamis, and sought strengthening of bilateral cooperation.”