Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso met with visiting Indian
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday in Tokyo for
their first strategic dialogue, covering issues ranging from
improving political, security, economic and personnel exchanges
cooperation to promoting bilateral ties aiming to build a strategic
partnership.??
Aso and Mukherjee finalized a bilateral economic cooperation
pact, which had already been under discussion. Further agreement
was seen in the creation of a vice-ministerial institution of
economic strategy which will bolster bilateral energy
cooperation.?
Japan's Jiji press agency saw the dialogue as part of Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's diplomatic strategy, which pushes for
forging closer ties with countries having similar values of India.
Prior to his meeting with Taro, Mukherjee met with Abe at the
beginning of this three-day visit to Japan.?
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2007)
