India, Japan agree to step up cooperation in anti-piracy ops

Tokyo, Nov 9 (PTI) India and Japan Monday agreed to
enhance their defence ties and step up cooperation in anti-
piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of
Somalia.
The two sides also agreed to enhance their defence
relations by holding joint exercises and expressed their
commitment to contribute to bilateral and regional cooperation
in areas like Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Regional Forum, peacekeeping and disaster relief.
This was stated in a joint press statement issued at
the end of a meeting between Indian Defence Minister A K
Antony and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa here
where they reviewed their existing bilateral defence
cooperation.
Antony's three-day visit is the first by any Indian
Cabinet Minister to Tokyo after the new Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) government took over here.
Piracy incidents off the Somalian coast and Gulf of
Aden came up for discussion and the two sides agreed to step
up their coordinated efforts against it, officials said.
Already, Indian and Japanese navies are coordinating
efforts in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to share
the burden of patrolling in the sea brigand-infested waters.
PTI AJD