The visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan in December 2006 marks the beginning of a joint partnership for global and strategic cooperation. This is a significant development as the two largest democracies of Asia will now jointly work towards achieving a nuclear weapons free world, a commitment that was made by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and his counterpart Yoshiro Mori in August 2000.

Indo-Japan bilateral ties reached its lowest ebb with India conducting the Pokhran II tests in May 1998. Japan strongly deplored the tests and was quick to apply stringent economic sanctions against India. Since then, both Asian nations have traversed a long distance. The Japan-India Summit in 2000 started the thaw in bilateral ties. Today India holds the distinction of being the largest receiver of Japanese ODA.

While economic opportunities remain a principal factor for strengthening bilateral ties, Indo-Japanese civil nuclear diplomacy can contribute substantially to strengthening relations. Japan's support for the Indo-US nuclear deal, which is now in the final stages of implementation, is considered crucial for India. The importance of nuclear energy to meet the country's requirements is completely accepted in Japan, which presently has 52 commercial nuclear reactors in operation generating 45,740 MW of electricity. Japan ranks third in the world, after the US and France, in nuclear power generation. Nuclear energy provides for approximately 34.6 per cent (FY2001) of Japan's electricity and nuclear energy is likely to remain the principal source of energy on which Japan will continue to depend for a long time.

The passage of the civilian nuclear deal between India and the US, apart from promising immense benefits to its main partners holds considerable advantage for Japan too. The Japanese government has decided to allow its companies to collaborate with India on projects involving construction of nuclear power stations. This would open the Indian markets to Japan for prudent investment opportunities. Civilian nuclear cooperation can also lead to other spin-offs notably collaboration in innovative technological areas like nano-technology, biotechnology and information technology. Japan can also benefit from India's skilled manpower, low-cost production and a healthy market growth.

Pakistan's clandestine role in transferring nuclear technology under AQ Khan for developing North Korea's nuclear programme is well documented. Japan has considered this regrettable and sought related information from Pakistan for purposes of investigation. Matters could become even more serious with terrorists operating within Pakistan who nurture intentions of nuclear weapons smuggling. Indo-Japanese cooperation can play a vital role in reigning in "rogue nations" and prevent WMD proliferation.

The strengthening of India-Japan relations can accelerate cooperation on issues of CTBT and FMCT. India has so far refrained from signing these treaties in view of their discriminatory nature. India like Japan supports elimination of nuclear weapons but its main contention is that other nations must pledge the same. India and Japan can play a substantial role to restart negotiations and move towards an early settlement of these treaties.

Manmohan Singh's visit to Tokyo was well timed. It was a major breakthrough for India to achieve Japan's support for the upcoming nuclear deal. Japan's support is expected to evoke similar responses from other NSG members notably the Scandinavian countries who have so far expressed reservations about India being made an exception to the NPT regime. The expected Japanese cooperation would further consolidate India-Japan strategic partnership and spur collaboration in defence and security matters.

India is a stable democratic nation with a clean non-proliferation record. As part of its commitment to the Indo-US nuclear deal it has pledged to put 65 percent of its nuclear reactors under IAEA safeguards that further curtails any risk of nuclear proliferation. It has implemented stringent export control over unlawful trafficking of WMD-related material and technology. India is a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology which has the potential to play a major role in global disarmament. India is also expected to contribute substantially in the ongoing ITER project.

Japan has strong faith in the NPT regime and India not being a signatory to the treaty creates some discomfort. However, what needs to be seriously taken note of is that India achieved its nuclear power status without violating the NPT regime even though it was not a legal party to it. Its strategic programme is embedded on the principles of no-first-use, minimum credible deterrence and unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. In addition, India's commitment to universal nuclear disarmament remains unshaken, a value that is shared by Japan.

India has growing demands for energy with its growth target pegged at 10 percent over the next decade. To meet its increasing demands, India needs a clean source of energy that will prevent global warming. This being the Year of India-Japan Friendship, Tokyo must support New Delhi's quest for civilian nuclear energy in the interest of Japan, India and the global community.