M A I N   N E W S

Visit has helped cement ties: PM
Japan to send economic mission to India
Ashwini Bhatnagar
Tribune News Service

In Video: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addresses a Press conference in Tokyo at the end of his five-day visit to Japan. (28k, 56k) Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today met Japanese Emperor Akihito and presented Japan's new-born Princess Aiko with a "navratna" necklace. (28k, 56k)

Tokyo, December 11
Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee looked at peace with himself and the world around him. He looked relaxed, smiled often and even cracked a joke with journalists as he wound up his five-day state trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Mr Vajpayee radiated warmth and friendliness. “Khuli hawa hai aur khili hui dhoop hai, lagta hai hamare mezhabano ne khas thaur se prabandh karaya hai is mausam ka,” he observed while making his opening remarks at a special Press briefing on the last day of his visit.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (R) meets with Japanese Emperor Akihito during an audience at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday. Vajpayee finished his five-day official visit to Japan and left Tokyo later on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

Prime Minister  Atal Behari Vajpayee and others move around inside the campus of New Otani hotel in Tokyo on Tuesday. — PTI photo

Mr Vajpayee said his visit had helped in further cementing ties between the two countries. In this context he pointed out that Japan had imposed sanctions against India after the nuclear test and the issue of India signing the CTBT was an irritant. “The issue was raised during this meeting too — characha hui par katuta nahi thi. CTBT ke kaaran khatas nahi aayi,” he said and added that it showed that the relationship between the two countries had reached a level of maturity.

He said Jammu and Kashmir would have elections soon 
and Pakistan should not do anything that could vitiate the process. Mr Vajpayee also said that India would support Japan’s case for a seat in the International Court of Justice and hoped that it would support India in its bid for a seat in the UN Security Council. He added that the Council should be expanded and the reforms process in the UN should be expedited.

He said the Japanese PM confirmed that his country attached importance to strengthening economic relations with India. “We agreed to identify new areas for expansion of this cooperation. A Japanese economic mission will be visiting India soon to further this objective,” he said. Mr Vajpayee arrived in New Delhi late tonight.