India to seek Japan's support for NSG waiver

With the IAEA approving the India-specific safeguards pact, India would seek the support of Japan in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

With the IAEA approving the India-specific safeguards pact, India would seek the support of Japan in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee meets his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Koumura in New Delhi on Monday.

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Koumura, the first Foreign Minister from an NSG country to visit India after the IAEA approval, would hold the Second Round of the Ministerial Level Dialogue with Mukherjee during his three-day stay here.

Ahead of the visit, Koumura said Japan wants to strengthen bilateral relations with the rising South Asian economic giant.

"India is developing more than ever and it is necessary to build good relations with that country.... Japan needs to become closer with area of the planet that will develop the most," the Japanese minister told reporters in Tokyo.

Koumura said he will discuss bilateral relations and international affairs with his Indian counterpart.

Mukherjee is expected to seek Japan's support for the nuclear deal in the NSG which is likely to meet in Vienna on August 21 to consider a waiver for India to allow it to resume nuclear commerce with the international community after a gap of over three decades.

"Both the leaders would also discuss on the ways to further bilateral relations as well as on regional and global issues," a Japanese Embassy release said.