Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation with India.

Calling PM Modi his most "dependable" friend, Shinzo Abe said that together with the Indian prime minister, he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Indian media reports cited Abe as saying India was driving the region and the world's prosperity as a global power.

He also called PM Modi an "outstanding leader of his great country" and added that he had always believed and stated that the relationship between Japan and India is blessed with the largest potential in the world.

"We share a big win-win potential in all areas and Japan remains committed to supporting India's economic growth and Prime Minister Modi's Make in India initiative through high-speed rail, subways and other infrastructure, mobilising Japan's world-leading technologies," he said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PM Abe: I heartily welcome Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> of India as he visits 🇯🇵. I lost no time taking him to the lakeside at Lake Yamanaka, where the autumn leaves are in their glory. After this, I will invite him to my summer house, where only the two of us will dine together. <a href="https://t.co/go4BoMTwz5">pic.twitter.com/go4BoMTwz5</a>
— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/JPN_PMO/status/1056457855446867968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Japan since yesterday, is one of my most dependable and valuable friends. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, I have the pleasure of extending him the warmest hospitality," the Japanese leader's message read.

"Together with Prime Minister Modi, I would like to further strengthen Japan-India cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific," Abe said.&nbsp;

The Japanese prime minister also said that the friendship between Japan and India will enhance further after&nbsp;Japanese Shinkansen bullet train&nbsp;starts running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation with India. Calling PM Modi his most "dependable" friend, Shinzo Abe said that together with the Indian prime minister, he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday expressed his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation with India. Calling PM Modi his most "dependable" friend, Shinzo Abe said that together with the Indian prime minister, he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific. Indian media reports cited Abe as saying India was driving the region and the world's prosperity as a global power. He also called PM Modi an "outstanding leader of his great country" and added that he had always believed and stated that the relationship between Japan and India is blessed with the largest potential in the world. "We share a big win-win potential in all areas and Japan remains committed to supporting India's economic growth and Prime Minister Modi's Make in India initiative through high-speed rail, subways and other infrastructure, mobilising Japan's world-leading technologies," he said. PM Abe: I heartily welcome Prime Minister @narendramodi of India as he visits 🇯🇵. I lost no time taking him to the lakeside at Lake Yamanaka, where the autumn leaves are in their glory. After this, I will invite him to my summer house, where only the two of us will dine together. pic.twitter.com/go4BoMTwz5 — PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) October 28, 2018 × "Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Japan since yesterday, is one of my most dependable and valuable friends. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, I have the pleasure of extending him the warmest hospitality," the Japanese leader's message read. "Together with Prime Minister Modi, I would like to further strengthen Japan-India cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific," Abe said. The Japanese prime minister also said that the friendship between Japan and India will enhance further after Japanese Shinkansen bullet train starts running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi my most 'dependable' friend: Japan's Shinzo Abe

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi, Japan on Sunday.

Modi is in Japan on a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-tokyo-for-13th-india-japan-annual-summit-173867">two-day state visit</a> during which he will also attend the 13th India-Japan summit.&nbsp;The two countries have an annual summit.&nbsp;

This will be Modi's twelfth meeting with Abe since the Indian prime minister first Japan in September 2014.

Modi and Abe are expected, over the summit,&nbsp;to discuss a number of issues including defence and regional security.&nbsp;

"Landed in Tokyo. I am confident this visit will add new vigour to the strong friendship between India and Japan," Modi said in a tweet on Saturday.

In a statement on Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Prime Ministers <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AbeShinzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbeShinzo</a> meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties. <a href="https://t.co/T9eGZ3yuVx">pic.twitter.com/T9eGZ3yuVx</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1056401734526918656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives PM Narendra Modi at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi <a href="https://t.co/FoablhOqlc">pic.twitter.com/FoablhOqlc</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1056393984745095168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PM Narendra Modi presented Japanese PM Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone and hand-woven Dhurries by the weavers of Mirzapur, UP, specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan for India-Japan annual summit: Sources <a href="https://t.co/M9ZDaeQWIC">pic.twitter.com/M9ZDaeQWIC</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1056438006557696001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

On landing in Japan, Modi met with the Indian community at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I thank Japan's Indian community for their warm welcome. 
 
We are proud of the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora. <a href="https://t.co/N51w7nPJpo">pic.twitter.com/N51w7nPJpo</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1056194743862882304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation.

Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields.

India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative.

Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement".&nbsp;

"Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. 
Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi, Japan on Sunday. Modi is in Japan on a two-day state visit during which he will also attend the 13th India-Japan summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi, Japan on Sunday. Modi is in Japan on a two-day state visit during which he will also attend the 13th India-Japan summit. The two countries have an annual summit. This will be Modi's twelfth meeting with Abe since the Indian prime minister first Japan in September 2014. Modi and Abe are expected, over the summit, to discuss a number of issues including defence and regional security. "Landed in Tokyo. I am confident this visit will add new vigour to the strong friendship between India and Japan," Modi said in a tweet on Saturday. In a statement on Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties. pic.twitter.com/T9eGZ3yuVx — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 28, 2018 × #WATCH: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives PM Narendra Modi at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi pic.twitter.com/FoablhOqlc — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 × PM Narendra Modi presented Japanese PM Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone and hand-woven Dhurries by the weavers of Mirzapur, UP, specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan for India-Japan annual summit: Sources pic.twitter.com/M9ZDaeQWIC — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 × On landing in Japan, Modi met with the Indian community at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel. I thank Japan's Indian community for their warm welcome. We are proud of the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/N51w7nPJpo — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2018 × On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. (With inputs from PTI)

Modi meets Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, they will discuss defence and regional security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan.

A Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented, an official said.

The gifts were specially crafted on the occasion of Modi's visit to Japan for the two-day India-Japan annual summit.&nbsp;

The bowls were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Gujarat's Khambhat region, which is known for its practice of stone craft since generations and is also a leading hub for exports of stone products from India.&nbsp;

"The uniqueness of this craft lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone, and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines," the official said.&nbsp;

Hand-woven by the master weavers of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, the dhurrie designs show the diversity of possibilities available -- from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another.&nbsp;

"The dhurries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes. While one uses Indigo blues, reds and sprinkles of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries, the other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape," the official said.&nbsp;

The stone bowls and dhurries were made under the design supervision of the prestigious Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design. 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan. A Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented, an official said. The gifts were specially crafted on the occasion of Modi's visit to Japan for the two-day India-Japan annual summit. The bowls were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Gujarat's Khambhat region, which is known for its practice of stone craft since generations and is also a leading hub for exports of stone products from India. "The uniqueness of this craft lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone, and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines," the official said. Hand-woven by the master weavers of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, the dhurrie designs show the diversity of possibilities available -- from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another. "The dhurries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes. While one uses Indigo blues, reds and sprinkles of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries, the other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape," the official said. The stone bowls and dhurries were made under the design supervision of the prestigious Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design.

PM Modi gifts handcrafted stone bowl, dhurries to Japanese premier

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Japan on Saturday to attend the annual summit on October 28 and 29 with his counterpart Shinzo Abe.

In a statement Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan a "winning combination" and said the island nation is New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation.

He said India's partnership with Japan is of great substance and purpose.

"We have a special strategic and global partnership. Our ties with Japan, both economic and strategic, stand completely transformed in recent years. It is today a partnership of great substance and purpose. It rests on the strong pillars of India's Act East Policy, and our shared vision and commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," he said.

Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014.

He said, as democracies, the two countries have shared values and they seek peace and prosperity for all.

"Our complementarities make India and Japan a winning combination. Japan today is one of the most trusted partners in India's economic and technological modernisations and one of the top investors in India," he pointed out.

The PM said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflect the high level and "strength of our economic engagement".

"Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start-Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said.

He said India values Japan's global leadership in innovation, technologies and best practices and during his visit, he will have a chance to see some of Japan's high-tech capabilities in robotics.

"I will have wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and interact with business leaders and captains of industry from both countries. I will also address the Indian community. These interactions will help to further strengthen our trade and investment ties, and cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, digital technologies, agriculture and food processing, disaster risk reduction and disaster resilient infrastructure," he said.&nbsp;

He recalled that last year, he had hosted Prime Minister Abe and his wife Akie Abe in his home state Gujarat.

In a special gesture, Modi will be hosted by his Japanese counterpart for a private dinner at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture on October 28, which will be, perhaps, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Japan on Saturday to attend the annual summit on October 28 and 29 with his counterpart Shinzo Abe. In a statement Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan a "winning combination" and said the island nation is New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Japan on Saturday to attend the annual summit on October 28 and 29 with his counterpart Shinzo Abe. In a statement Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan a "winning combination" and said the island nation is New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. He said India's partnership with Japan is of great substance and purpose. "We have a special strategic and global partnership. Our ties with Japan, both economic and strategic, stand completely transformed in recent years. It is today a partnership of great substance and purpose. It rests on the strong pillars of India's Act East Policy, and our shared vision and commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," he said. Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. He said, as democracies, the two countries have shared values and they seek peace and prosperity for all. "Our complementarities make India and Japan a winning combination. Japan today is one of the most trusted partners in India's economic and technological modernisations and one of the top investors in India," he pointed out. The PM said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflect the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start-Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. He said India values Japan's global leadership in innovation, technologies and best practices and during his visit, he will have a chance to see some of Japan's high-tech capabilities in robotics. "I will have wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and interact with business leaders and captains of industry from both countries. I will also address the Indian community. These interactions will help to further strengthen our trade and investment ties, and cooperation in new areas such as healthcare, digital technologies, agriculture and food processing, disaster risk reduction and disaster resilient infrastructure," he said. He recalled that last year, he had hosted Prime Minister Abe and his wife Akie Abe in his home state Gujarat. In a special gesture, Modi will be hosted by his Japanese counterpart for a private dinner at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture on October 28, which will be, perhaps, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader.

PM Modi leaves for two-day visit to Japan

China and Japan on Friday pledged to forge closer ties as both countries stood together at a "historic turning point", signing a broad range of agreements including a $30 billion currency swap pact, amid rising trade tensions with Washington.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also agreed the two countries would work together to achieve denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.

The pacts were reached on Abe's three-day visit to Beijing as the two neighbours looked to carve out new areas of cooperation and seek new ways to promote trust, which has been fragile at times since diplomatic relations resumed in 1972.

"From competition to co-existence, Japan and China bilateral relations have entered a new phase. Hand in hand with Premier Li, I would like to advance our ties forward," Abe said at a briefing.

Abe is expected to meet with President Xi Jinping later on Friday in the first full-scale Sino-Japanese summit since 2011.

Japanese firms including big auto companies like Toyota hope to see normalised ties with China so they can compete with US and European rivals, while Beijing expects Tokyo's endorsement of its ambitious Belt and Road programme, an initiative that Xi hopes will further boost trade and transport links with other countries.

Abe also said Tokyo was "determined" to normalise diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, but only if preconditions were met, including denuclearisation and the release of kidnapped Japanese citizens.

"Our two countries bear large responsibility in achieving peace and stability in this region," Abe said.

Efforts in advancing China-Japan ties should "persevere unremittingly to prevent the appearance of new twists and turns" so that previous efforts did not go to waste, said Li at a joint briefing with Abe on Friday.

"The Chinese side is willing to work with the Japanese side to return to a normal track, and maintain the stable, sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations," he said, adding that he had held candid discussions with Abe since his arrival on matters of mutual concerns.

They reached consensus, Li said, that safeguarding long-term healthy and stable China-Japan ties was in accordance with the interests of both countries and the region and the world.

The move to boost economic ties came as China and the United States slap tit-for-tat tariffs on each other in recent months. Japan is at risk as it exports to China manufacturing equipment and electronic parts, which are used to make finished goods for the United States and other markets.

Ahead of the briefing, China and Japan signed an agreement to prepare yearly plans for talks, dialogues and exchanges, as well as a pact to step up cooperation in innovation.

They also agreed to boost cooperation in the securities markets including the listing of exchange-trade funds (ETFs), and facilitate smoother customs clearance.

Both sides signed a currency swap agreement of up to 3.4 trillion yen ($30.29 billion), effective until 2021. They also inked a deal towards establishing a yuan clearing bank.

Li said both sides had agreed that as major countries, China and Japan should uphold free trade and accelerate talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and on a China-Japan-Korea trade zone.

RCEP is a free trade agreement proposed by China with Southeast Asia and various countries on the Pacific Rim including Japan.

China and Japan on Friday pledged to forge closer ties as both countries stood together at a "historic turning point", signing a broad range of agreements including a $30 billion currency swap pact, amid rising trade tensions with Washington.

China and Japan on Friday pledged to forge closer ties as both countries stood together at a "historic turning point", signing a broad range of agreements including a $30 billion currency swap pact, amid rising trade tensions with Washington. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also agreed the two countries would work together to achieve denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula. The pacts were reached on Abe's three-day visit to Beijing as the two neighbours looked to carve out new areas of cooperation and seek new ways to promote trust, which has been fragile at times since diplomatic relations resumed in 1972. "From competition to co-existence, Japan and China bilateral relations have entered a new phase. Hand in hand with Premier Li, I would like to advance our ties forward," Abe said at a briefing. Abe is expected to meet with President Xi Jinping later on Friday in the first full-scale Sino-Japanese summit since 2011. Japanese firms including big auto companies like Toyota hope to see normalised ties with China so they can compete with US and European rivals, while Beijing expects Tokyo's endorsement of its ambitious Belt and Road programme, an initiative that Xi hopes will further boost trade and transport links with other countries. Abe also said Tokyo was "determined" to normalise diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, but only if preconditions were met, including denuclearisation and the release of kidnapped Japanese citizens. "Our two countries bear large responsibility in achieving peace and stability in this region," Abe said. Efforts in advancing China-Japan ties should "persevere unremittingly to prevent the appearance of new twists and turns" so that previous efforts did not go to waste, said Li at a joint briefing with Abe on Friday. "The Chinese side is willing to work with the Japanese side to return to a normal track, and maintain the stable, sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations," he said, adding that he had held candid discussions with Abe since his arrival on matters of mutual concerns. They reached consensus, Li said, that safeguarding long-term healthy and stable China-Japan ties was in accordance with the interests of both countries and the region and the world. The move to boost economic ties came as China and the United States slap tit-for-tat tariffs on each other in recent months. Japan is at risk as it exports to China manufacturing equipment and electronic parts, which are used to make finished goods for the United States and other markets. Ahead of the briefing, China and Japan signed an agreement to prepare yearly plans for talks, dialogues and exchanges, as well as a pact to step up cooperation in innovation. They also agreed to boost cooperation in the securities markets including the listing of exchange-trade funds (ETFs), and facilitate smoother customs clearance. Both sides signed a currency swap agreement of up to 3.4 trillion yen ($30.29 billion), effective until 2021. They also inked a deal towards establishing a yuan clearing bank. Li said both sides had agreed that as major countries, China and Japan should uphold free trade and accelerate talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and on a China-Japan-Korea trade zone. RCEP is a free trade agreement proposed by China with Southeast Asia and various countries on the Pacific Rim including Japan.

China, Japan to forge closer ties at 'historic turning point'

Japan and China have major responsibility for ensuring regional security and will work together on the North Korea issue, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday during an official visit to China.

Abe, speaking to reporters in a briefing with China`s Premier Li Keqiang, also said Japan was committed to normalising diplomatic relations with North Korea.

But several issues, including North Korea`s kidnapping of Japanese citizens, must be resolved before bilateral relations were normalised, he said. 
&nbsp;

Japan and China have major responsibility for ensuring regional security and will work together on the North Korea issue, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday during an official visit to China.

Japan and China have major responsibility for ensuring regional security and will work together on the North Korea issue, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday during an official visit to China. Abe, speaking to reporters in a briefing with China`s Premier Li Keqiang, also said Japan was committed to normalising diplomatic relations with North Korea. But several issues, including North Korea`s kidnapping of Japanese citizens, must be resolved before bilateral relations were normalised, he said.

Japan's PM Shinzo Abe says to work with China on North Korea issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an annual summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on October 28-29. Modi and Abe will not only review the current status of bilateral ties, but are also expected to take some concrete steps to expand their engagement.

For the two leaders, security and defence cooperation are of utmost importance. Over the last few years, security cooperation between the two sides has taken several strides. While India, Japan and the US conduct Malabar naval exercises, New Delhi and Tokyo also hold the annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue, the National Security Advisers’ dialogue, the ‘2+2’ Dialogue, the Defence Policy Dialogue and the Service-to-Service staff talks. They have also decided to enhance ties in this area by fostering defence equipment and technology cooperation in areas such as surveillance and unmanned system technologies, and defence industry cooperation.

For the first time, Japan will be an observer at the Cope India exercise in December between India and the US air forces. The Indian Army will hold the first ground force exercise with its Japanese counterpart next month. At the same time, Japan has also expressed readiness to provide state-of-the-art US-2 amphibian aircraft. Japan has expressed its desire to strengthen cooperation with India in order to tackle terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. During Modi’s visit, the two countries would reportedly sign the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).&nbsp;

This, in turn, would provide Japanese ships access to fuel and servicing at major Indian naval bases, including the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Modi and Abe said that differences should be resolved through dialogue and all countries, large or small, should enjoy the freedom of navigation, sustainable development, and a free, fair, and open trade and investment system. The two leaders also indicated the need to align Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy with India’s Act East Policy.

The bonhomie between India and Japan comes at a time when China, with which India and Japan both have long-standing disputes, has undertaken aggressive posturing. Since these two countries also want to direction of global politics, they have a shared interest in preventing China’s growing clout. It is in this context that India and Japan are trying to engage with ASEAN countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue among the US, India, Japan and Australia was revived last year to promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. But it is equally true that the Trump administration’s inclination towards looking at things through the prism of ‘America First’ Policy, thereby jeopardising the security of US’ allies and partners, has also made it necessary for the two countries to foster close security and defence ties with each other and also engage other like-mined countries.

India’s $100 military-modernisation programme is yet another factor for the two sides to promote defence relations. Working with Japan will enable India to strengthen its ‘Make in India’ programme in the defence sector, which in turn will not only reduce the volume of India’s arms imports, but also enable it to realise its dream of becoming a major arms exporter. For Japan, transferring high technology to India will burnish its image of a reliable arms technology provider. This can be gauged from the fact that Hiramatsu, the Japanese Ambassador to India, has said that Japan has responded positively to Indian Navy’s ongoing submarine tender project 75I and is keen on collaborating in this area. In the past, Japan was reluctant to provide defence technology. But the proposed signing of an agreement on maritime domain awareness during Modi’s visit will add a new dimension to India-Japan defence ties, given Japan’s position as a world leader in anti-submarine warfare and maritime awareness equipment.

Infrastructure, trade and commerce will be another area of discussion during Modi’s visit. It is expected that Modi’s visit will witness some concrete efforts to develop Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, which can effectively counter China’s Belt Road Initiative. While the signing of the nuclear agreement was seen as an epoch-making event in the bilateral ties in November 2016, the fact remains that in the last two years no movement has been initiated in this area. So Modi should bring up this issue in his talks with Abe. Now, with the deepening convergence of interests in areas such as security, infrastructure, trade and commerce, the importance of Modi’s visit cannot be overstated. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-the-imperative-of-strengthening-india-s-ties-with-japan-2679320">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an annual summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on October 28-29. Modi and Abe will not only review the current status of bilateral ties, but are also expected to take some concrete steps to expand their engagement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an annual summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on October 28-29. Modi and Abe will not only review the current status of bilateral ties, but are also expected to take some concrete steps to expand their engagement. For the two leaders, security and defence cooperation are of utmost importance. Over the last few years, security cooperation between the two sides has taken several strides. While India, Japan and the US conduct Malabar naval exercises, New Delhi and Tokyo also hold the annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue, the National Security Advisers’ dialogue, the ‘2+2’ Dialogue, the Defence Policy Dialogue and the Service-to-Service staff talks. They have also decided to enhance ties in this area by fostering defence equipment and technology cooperation in areas such as surveillance and unmanned system technologies, and defence industry cooperation. For the first time, Japan will be an observer at the Cope India exercise in December between India and the US air forces. The Indian Army will hold the first ground force exercise with its Japanese counterpart next month. At the same time, Japan has also expressed readiness to provide state-of-the-art US-2 amphibian aircraft. Japan has expressed its desire to strengthen cooperation with India in order to tackle terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. During Modi’s visit, the two countries would reportedly sign the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). This, in turn, would provide Japanese ships access to fuel and servicing at major Indian naval bases, including the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Modi and Abe said that differences should be resolved through dialogue and all countries, large or small, should enjoy the freedom of navigation, sustainable development, and a free, fair, and open trade and investment system. The two leaders also indicated the need to align Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy with India’s Act East Policy. The bonhomie between India and Japan comes at a time when China, with which India and Japan both have long-standing disputes, has undertaken aggressive posturing. Since these two countries also want to direction of global politics, they have a shared interest in preventing China’s growing clout. It is in this context that India and Japan are trying to engage with ASEAN countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue among the US, India, Japan and Australia was revived last year to promote peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. But it is equally true that the Trump administration’s inclination towards looking at things through the prism of ‘America First’ Policy, thereby jeopardising the security of US’ allies and partners, has also made it necessary for the two countries to foster close security and defence ties with each other and also engage other like-mined countries. India’s $100 military-modernisation programme is yet another factor for the two sides to promote defence relations. Working with Japan will enable India to strengthen its ‘Make in India’ programme in the defence sector, which in turn will not only reduce the volume of India’s arms imports, but also enable it to realise its dream of becoming a major arms exporter. For Japan, transferring high technology to India will burnish its image of a reliable arms technology provider. This can be gauged from the fact that Hiramatsu, the Japanese Ambassador to India, has said that Japan has responded positively to Indian Navy’s ongoing submarine tender project 75I and is keen on collaborating in this area. In the past, Japan was reluctant to provide defence technology. But the proposed signing of an agreement on maritime domain awareness during Modi’s visit will add a new dimension to India-Japan defence ties, given Japan’s position as a world leader in anti-submarine warfare and maritime awareness equipment. Infrastructure, trade and commerce will be another area of discussion during Modi’s visit. It is expected that Modi’s visit will witness some concrete efforts to develop Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, which can effectively counter China’s Belt Road Initiative. While the signing of the nuclear agreement was seen as an epoch-making event in the bilateral ties in November 2016, the fact remains that in the last two years no movement has been initiated in this area. So Modi should bring up this issue in his talks with Abe. Now, with the deepening convergence of interests in areas such as security, infrastructure, trade and commerce, the importance of Modi’s visit cannot be overstated. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The imperative of strengthening India’s ties with Japan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-japan-to-forge-closer-ties-at-historic-turning-point-173569">Japan and China</a> signed $2.6 billion in business deals and touted their warmer ties on Friday during a rare visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both face trade challenges from US President Donald Trump.

Premier Li Keqiang greeted Abe as Japan's flag flew outside the opulent Great Hall of the People across from Tiananmen Square, and they reviewed an honour guard before going inside for talks.

Relations between Asia's two biggest economies have improved in recent years after they sunk to new lows in 2012 when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing.

Addressing a joint press conference, Abe said that the two leaders had agreed to "play a constructive role for the sake of this region's peace and prosperity".

"I believe active trade will deepen ties between Japanese and Chinese peoples further," he said.

"Now, international conditions are unstable, and uncertainties have increased," Li said, adding that the countries' economic cooperation would "benefit the development of global free trade".

The relationship has rapidly warmed up as Trump has slapped massive tariffs on China while also targeting Japanese exports in his effort to cut US trade deficits, despite touting his personal bonds with Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

But behind the feel-good vibes, Abe also delivered a sterner messages, a Japanese spokesman said, warning China that "without stability in the East China Sea, there will not be a true improvement in the relationship."

He also told Li that "the international community, including Japan, is watching carefully the human rights situation in China".

Abe also met with Xi and details of their talks were expected later in the evening.

Trump 'uncertainty'

Abe travelled with nearly 1,000 delegates from Japanese companies who struck 500 deals worth a total of $2.6 billion, Li said, without providing details.

The companies are eager for increased access to China's massive market, while Beijing is interested in Japanese technology and corporate know-how.

The two leaders also oversaw the signing of several political agreements, including a currency swap deal and a mechanism to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries which often come in contact in the disputed East China Sea.

Hu Lingyuan, director of the Center for Japanese Studies at China's Fudan University, said Trump's trade policy had contributed to closer Sino-Japanese ties.

"The uncertainty in Trump policy made Abe feel that he could not bet only on the United States," Hu told AFP.&nbsp;

"If he adjusts his relationship with China, he will have more initiative and space in the future when he is negotiating with the United States."

China's nationalistic Global Times said in an editorial that "though the US is quite an influential factor in China-Japan ties, the effect is limited".

"If Beijing and Tokyo intend to plan their future bilateral relationship based on Washington's attitude, they will only get lost," the state-run daily said.

'Safeguard free trade'

The last official visit to Beijing by a Japanese prime minister was in 2011.

Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Xi on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ministerial visits by both sides and a softening of rhetoric. Li visited Tokyo in May.

Abe's three-day trip, which began Thursday, sets up the possibility that Xi will visit Japan next year.

Abe and Li already met on Thursday during a reception to celebrate the signing of the treaty that put Japanese and Chinese relations back on track after World War II.

But territorial disputes continue to cause frictions.

Just days before Abe's trip, Tokyo lodged an official complaint after Chinese ships cruised around the disputed islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing labels the Diaoyu islands.

China has long denounced Japan for what it says is an insufficiently contrite attitude towards its role in World War II.

But ahead of the trip, Beijing has taken a more cordial stance than it has in the past.

Japanese media have reported Abe is hoping the visit will produce a soft power win in the form of some panda diplomacy, with zoos in Sendai and Kobe apparently angling for new additions.

Japan and China signed $2.6 billion in business deals and touted their warmer ties on Friday during a rare visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both face trade challenges from US President Donald Trump.

Japan and China signed $2.6 billion in business deals and touted their warmer ties on Friday during a rare visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both face trade challenges from US President Donald Trump. Premier Li Keqiang greeted Abe as Japan's flag flew outside the opulent Great Hall of the People across from Tiananmen Square, and they reviewed an honour guard before going inside for talks. Relations between Asia's two biggest economies have improved in recent years after they sunk to new lows in 2012 when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing. Addressing a joint press conference, Abe said that the two leaders had agreed to "play a constructive role for the sake of this region's peace and prosperity". "I believe active trade will deepen ties between Japanese and Chinese peoples further," he said. "Now, international conditions are unstable, and uncertainties have increased," Li said, adding that the countries' economic cooperation would "benefit the development of global free trade". The relationship has rapidly warmed up as Trump has slapped massive tariffs on China while also targeting Japanese exports in his effort to cut US trade deficits, despite touting his personal bonds with Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping. But behind the feel-good vibes, Abe also delivered a sterner messages, a Japanese spokesman said, warning China that "without stability in the East China Sea, there will not be a true improvement in the relationship." He also told Li that "the international community, including Japan, is watching carefully the human rights situation in China". Abe also met with Xi and details of their talks were expected later in the evening. Trump 'uncertainty' Abe travelled with nearly 1,000 delegates from Japanese companies who struck 500 deals worth a total of $2.6 billion, Li said, without providing details. The companies are eager for increased access to China's massive market, while Beijing is interested in Japanese technology and corporate know-how. The two leaders also oversaw the signing of several political agreements, including a currency swap deal and a mechanism to avoid accidental clashes between their militaries which often come in contact in the disputed East China Sea. Hu Lingyuan, director of the Center for Japanese Studies at China's Fudan University, said Trump's trade policy had contributed to closer Sino-Japanese ties. "The uncertainty in Trump policy made Abe feel that he could not bet only on the United States," Hu told AFP. "If he adjusts his relationship with China, he will have more initiative and space in the future when he is negotiating with the United States." China's nationalistic Global Times said in an editorial that "though the US is quite an influential factor in China-Japan ties, the effect is limited". "If Beijing and Tokyo intend to plan their future bilateral relationship based on Washington's attitude, they will only get lost," the state-run daily said. 'Safeguard free trade' The last official visit to Beijing by a Japanese prime minister was in 2011. Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Xi on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ministerial visits by both sides and a softening of rhetoric. Li visited Tokyo in May. Abe's three-day trip, which began Thursday, sets up the possibility that Xi will visit Japan next year. Abe and Li already met on Thursday during a reception to celebrate the signing of the treaty that put Japanese and Chinese relations back on track after World War II. But territorial disputes continue to cause frictions. Just days before Abe's trip, Tokyo lodged an official complaint after Chinese ships cruised around the disputed islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing labels the Diaoyu islands. China has long denounced Japan for what it says is an insufficiently contrite attitude towards its role in World War II. But ahead of the trip, Beijing has taken a more cordial stance than it has in the past. Japanese media have reported Abe is hoping the visit will produce a soft power win in the form of some panda diplomacy, with zoos in Sendai and Kobe apparently angling for new additions.

Japan, China strike deals during Abe visit as ties improve

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Japan starting October 28 to take part in an annual summit between the two nations and will engage with his counterpart Shinzo Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security.

This will be the 13th annual summit and the fifth one to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters.

"Regional security will be another topic. We presume that given the interest Japan has in issues related to the Korean peninsula and DPRK, this matter will be discussed. We will certainly raise our concerns over terrorism and other trans-border crimes which are of importance to us," he said.

He said India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative.

"How we dovetail this and how we leverage Japan's strength in certain areas including medical equipments, hospitals and others is something that the two leaders can explore," Gokhale said.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Japan starting October 28 to take part in an annual summit between the two nations and will engage with his counterpart Shinzo Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Japan starting October 28 to take part in an annual summit between the two nations and will engage with his counterpart Shinzo Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. This will be the 13th annual summit and the fifth one to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters. "Regional security will be another topic. We presume that given the interest Japan has in issues related to the Korean peninsula and DPRK, this matter will be discussed. We will certainly raise our concerns over terrorism and other trans-border crimes which are of importance to us," he said. He said India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. "How we dovetail this and how we leverage Japan's strength in certain areas including medical equipments, hospitals and others is something that the two leaders can explore," Gokhale said.

PM Modi on two-day visit to Japan starting October 28

Japan's Shinzo Abe arrived in China Thursday, the first visit to the Asian giant by a Japanese prime minister since relations between the two countries soured six years ago over a territorial row.

Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss how to improve economic cooperation as the world's second and third largest economies prepare to weather a US onslaught of trade measures.

Japanese business is eager for increased access to China's massive market, while Beijing is interested in Japanese technology and corporate know-how.

The visit is the first by a Japanese premier since 2011 and is part of a years-long process of repairing relations in the wake of a disastrous falling-out in 2012, when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing.

The incident prompted anti-Japanese riots in China, and kicked off a frosty spell that has only recently begun to thaw.

Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Xi on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ministerial visits by both sides and a softening of rhetoric. 
"Our two countries have been making continuous efforts to improve relations," Abe said before flying to Beijing Thursday, expressing his hope that the visit would "lift bilateral relations to a new level."

The two leaders are likely to focus on a range of potential deals, including joint investments in infrastructure in regional nations including Indonesia and the Philippines.

Abe said they also planned to discuss North Korea and territorial frictions -- calling to make "the East China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."

The Japanese leader, who leaves China on Saturday, will also hold talks with Premier Li Keqiang.

Peace treaty anniversary

Just days before Abe's trip, Tokyo lodged an official complaint after Chinese ships cruised around the disputed islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing labels the Diaoyu islands.

Abe's three-day trip sets up the possibility that Xi will visit Japan next year.

China has long denounced Japan for what it says is an insufficiently contrite attitude towards its role in World War II.

But ahead of the trip, Beijing has taken a more cordial stance than it has in the past.

During Abe's visit, the leaders will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of a treaty between the two countries that was intended to set the tone for their relations following the war.

Japanese media have reported Abe is hoping the visit will produce a soft power win in the form of some panda diplomacy, with zoos in Sendai and Kobe apparently angling for new additions. 
&nbsp;

Japan's Shinzo Abe arrived in China Thursday, the first visit to the Asian giant by a Japanese prime minister since relations between the two countries soured six years ago over a territorial row.

Japan's Shinzo Abe arrived in China Thursday, the first visit to the Asian giant by a Japanese prime minister since relations between the two countries soured six years ago over a territorial row. Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss how to improve economic cooperation as the world's second and third largest economies prepare to weather a US onslaught of trade measures. Japanese business is eager for increased access to China's massive market, while Beijing is interested in Japanese technology and corporate know-how. The visit is the first by a Japanese premier since 2011 and is part of a years-long process of repairing relations in the wake of a disastrous falling-out in 2012, when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing. The incident prompted anti-Japanese riots in China, and kicked off a frosty spell that has only recently begun to thaw. Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Xi on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ministerial visits by both sides and a softening of rhetoric. "Our two countries have been making continuous efforts to improve relations," Abe said before flying to Beijing Thursday, expressing his hope that the visit would "lift bilateral relations to a new level." The two leaders are likely to focus on a range of potential deals, including joint investments in infrastructure in regional nations including Indonesia and the Philippines. Abe said they also planned to discuss North Korea and territorial frictions -- calling to make "the East China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation." The Japanese leader, who leaves China on Saturday, will also hold talks with Premier Li Keqiang. Peace treaty anniversary Just days before Abe's trip, Tokyo lodged an official complaint after Chinese ships cruised around the disputed islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing labels the Diaoyu islands. Abe's three-day trip sets up the possibility that Xi will visit Japan next year. China has long denounced Japan for what it says is an insufficiently contrite attitude towards its role in World War II. But ahead of the trip, Beijing has taken a more cordial stance than it has in the past. During Abe's visit, the leaders will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of a treaty between the two countries that was intended to set the tone for their relations following the war. Japanese media have reported Abe is hoping the visit will produce a soft power win in the form of some panda diplomacy, with zoos in Sendai and Kobe apparently angling for new additions.

Japan's PM Shinzo Abe makes rare China visit as relations thaw

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes a rare trip to China this week hoping improved relations will lead to new economic partnerships, as the two countries come under US pressure on trade.

The visit is the first by a Japanese premier since 2011 and is part of a years-long process of repairing ties in the wake of a disastrous falling-out in 2012, when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing.

The incident prompted anti-Japanese riots in China, and kicked off a frosty spell that has only gradually and recently begun to thaw.

Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ministerial visits by both sides and a softening of rhetoric.

But Abe's trip will be a test of how far the two countries have come, and the need for progress is all the more urgent as US President Donald Trump levies tariffs and rattles sabres on trade with both China and Japan.

"The trade war with the US seems like it's helping bring them together a bit," said Kristin Vekasi, assistant professor of political science at the University of Maine, and an expert on Japan-China ties.

"In that sense, they're actually on the same side... and if Japan leans away from the US because of decreased economic opportunities, there's a potential for closer ties with China," she told AFP.

- Complementary economies - 
The two leaders are likely to focus on a range of potential deals, including joint investments in infrastructure in regional nations including Indonesia and the Philippines.

Abe has signalled some interest in China's massive "Belt and Road Initiative", which funds major infrastructure work, but experts said a concrete deal on Japanese participation was unlikely for now.

Both sides are keen to improve economic cooperation, with Japanese business eager for increased access to China's massive market, and Beijing interested in Japanese technology and corporate knowhow.

"Japan and China have really nicely complementary economies, and they can benefit hugely from having closer trade and investment ties," said Vekasi.

"They'll try and bring home some economic tangibles. That's generally where they've been able to successfully cooperate in the past."

The two leaders may find less common ground outside of the economic realm, with tensions lingering over territorial issues.

Just days before Abe's trip, Tokyo lodged an official complaint after Chinese ships cruised around the disputed islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing labels the Diaoyu islands.

And in September, Japan carried out its first submarine drills in the disputed South China Sea.

Japan does not border the South China Sea but has expressed concern about Chinese military activity there.

Panda diplomacy? 
Abe and Xi are likely to simply avoid those thornier issues, said Kazuyuki Suwa, a professor of political science at the University of Shizuoka.

"Neither side will make any compromises... They will say what they need to say, and won't likely agree to go beyond that," he told AFP.

"The relationship is a mixture of cooperation and confrontation, and that will stay the same."

Much of the meeting will be about optics, with both men looking for the symbolic boost that the summit will provide.

Abe will also be hoping to extract a pledge that China will make good on plans for Xi to pay a reciprocal visit to Japan next year.

If he succeeds, "that itself should be called one of the major achievements of this trip," Suwa said.

And there may be other diplomatic tools at the ready as well.

When Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited Japan earlier this year, he announced a gift of a pair of rare wild crested ibises, which arrived this month.

Japanese media have reported Abe is hoping that his visit will produce a bigger bonanza in the form of some panda diplomacy, with zoos in Sendai and Kobe apparently angling for new additions. 
&nbsp;

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes a rare trip to China this week hoping improved relations will lead to new economic partnerships, as the two countries come under US pressure on trade.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes a rare trip to China this week hoping improved relations will lead to new economic partnerships, as the two countries come under US pressure on trade. The visit is the first by a Japanese premier since 2011 and is part of a years-long process of repairing ties in the wake of a disastrous falling-out in 2012, when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing. The incident prompted anti-Japanese riots in China, and kicked off a frosty spell that has only gradually and recently begun to thaw. Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ministerial visits by both sides and a softening of rhetoric. But Abe's trip will be a test of how far the two countries have come, and the need for progress is all the more urgent as US President Donald Trump levies tariffs and rattles sabres on trade with both China and Japan. "The trade war with the US seems like it's helping bring them together a bit," said Kristin Vekasi, assistant professor of political science at the University of Maine, and an expert on Japan-China ties. "In that sense, they're actually on the same side... and if Japan leans away from the US because of decreased economic opportunities, there's a potential for closer ties with China," she told AFP. - Complementary economies - The two leaders are likely to focus on a range of potential deals, including joint investments in infrastructure in regional nations including Indonesia and the Philippines. Abe has signalled some interest in China's massive "Belt and Road Initiative", which funds major infrastructure work, but experts said a concrete deal on Japanese participation was unlikely for now. Both sides are keen to improve economic cooperation, with Japanese business eager for increased access to China's massive market, and Beijing interested in Japanese technology and corporate knowhow. "Japan and China have really nicely complementary economies, and they can benefit hugely from having closer trade and investment ties," said Vekasi. "They'll try and bring home some economic tangibles. That's generally where they've been able to successfully cooperate in the past." The two leaders may find less common ground outside of the economic realm, with tensions lingering over territorial issues. Just days before Abe's trip, Tokyo lodged an official complaint after Chinese ships cruised around the disputed islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing labels the Diaoyu islands. And in September, Japan carried out its first submarine drills in the disputed South China Sea. Japan does not border the South China Sea but has expressed concern about Chinese military activity there. Panda diplomacy? Abe and Xi are likely to simply avoid those thornier issues, said Kazuyuki Suwa, a professor of political science at the University of Shizuoka. "Neither side will make any compromises... They will say what they need to say, and won't likely agree to go beyond that," he told AFP. "The relationship is a mixture of cooperation and confrontation, and that will stay the same." Much of the meeting will be about optics, with both men looking for the symbolic boost that the summit will provide. Abe will also be hoping to extract a pledge that China will make good on plans for Xi to pay a reciprocal visit to Japan next year. If he succeeds, "that itself should be called one of the major achievements of this trip," Suwa said. And there may be other diplomatic tools at the ready as well. When Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited Japan earlier this year, he announced a gift of a pair of rare wild crested ibises, which arrived this month. Japanese media have reported Abe is hoping that his visit will produce a bigger bonanza in the form of some panda diplomacy, with zoos in Sendai and Kobe apparently angling for new additions.

Under pressure on trade from US, Japan PM to make first visit to China in 7 years

Japan hopes to clinch a military logistics pact with India that will allow access to each other's bases, Tokyo's envoy said on Monday, in a tightening of security ties seen as designed to balance China's growing weight in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Japan this weekend for an annual summit with his counterpart Shinzo Abe, and the proposed Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement between the two militaries is on the agenda.

Under Modi and Abe, bilateral relations have rapidly expanded and the two countries conduct three-way naval exercises involving the United States in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

Japan's ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu, said it was only natural for the two militaries to have a logistics-sharing agreement because of the large number of manoeuvres they were carrying out each year.

"We hope to start formal negotiations with regard to signing of the ACSA. It is high time we had mutual logistics support," he said.

Under such a pact, Japanese ships would get access to fuel and servicing at major Indian naval bases including the Andaman and Nicobar islands, which lie near the Malacca Straits through which a large amount of Japan's but also China's trade and fuel supplies is shipped.

India's navy, which is increasingly sending ships further out as a way to counter China's expanding presence in the Indian Ocean, would get access to Japanese facilities for maintenance.

Modi's government signed a similar agreement with the United States in 2016 ending years of hesitation by previous administrations that worried about upsetting China.

Beijing has in the past expressed concern about multilateral and complex exercises, calling them destabilising to the region.

Hiramatsu said Japan and India had a great deal of convergence with respect to freedom of navigation and transparency in the Indio-Pacific region.

Japan hopes to clinch a military logistics pact with India that will allow access to each other's bases, Tokyo's envoy said on Monday, in a tightening of security ties seen as designed to balance China's growing weight in the region.

Japan hopes to clinch a military logistics pact with India that will allow access to each other's bases, Tokyo's envoy said on Monday, in a tightening of security ties seen as designed to balance China's growing weight in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Japan this weekend for an annual summit with his counterpart Shinzo Abe, and the proposed Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement between the two militaries is on the agenda. Under Modi and Abe, bilateral relations have rapidly expanded and the two countries conduct three-way naval exercises involving the United States in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Japan's ambassador to India, Kenji Hiramatsu, said it was only natural for the two militaries to have a logistics-sharing agreement because of the large number of manoeuvres they were carrying out each year. "We hope to start formal negotiations with regard to signing of the ACSA. It is high time we had mutual logistics support," he said. Under such a pact, Japanese ships would get access to fuel and servicing at major Indian naval bases including the Andaman and Nicobar islands, which lie near the Malacca Straits through which a large amount of Japan's but also China's trade and fuel supplies is shipped. India's navy, which is increasingly sending ships further out as a way to counter China's expanding presence in the Indian Ocean, would get access to Japanese facilities for maintenance. Modi's government signed a similar agreement with the United States in 2016 ending years of hesitation by previous administrations that worried about upsetting China. Beijing has in the past expressed concern about multilateral and complex exercises, calling them destabilising to the region. Hiramatsu said Japan and India had a great deal of convergence with respect to freedom of navigation and transparency in the Indio-Pacific region.

Japan, India negotiating military logistics pact in tightening of ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Japan on October 28-29 to hold the annual India-Japan summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe which will focus on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests, news agency PTI reported quoting External Affairs Ministry on Friday.

It will be the fifth annual summit meeting between Modi and Abe and their 12 meeting overall since 2014, the report added.

Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

"Under the framework of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, the two leaders will have wide-ranging discussions over two days on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest," the MEA said.

It said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. "It

will also advance the vision of India and Japan working together to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," the MEA said.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Japan on October 28-29 to hold the annual India-Japan summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe which will focus on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests, news agency PTI reported quoting External Affairs Ministry on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Japan on October 28-29 to hold the annual India-Japan summit with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe which will focus on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests, news agency PTI reported quoting External Affairs Ministry on Friday. It will be the fifth annual summit meeting between Modi and Abe and their 12 meeting overall since 2014, the report added. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. "Under the framework of the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, the two leaders will have wide-ranging discussions over two days on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest," the MEA said. It said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. "It will also advance the vision of India and Japan working together to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," the MEA said.

PM Modi to visit Japan on October 28-29 for India-Japan annual summit

While China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been in the news for a while, Japan is slowly funding the building of supplementary trade corridors in the Mekong region, projecting itself as not only interested in building infrastructure but also trade facilitation through the human capacity building in the region. With a growth rate exceeding 5 per cent and a combined population of over 240 million, the Mekong region, which was devastated by the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s, has now emerged as a new growth centre of Asia. With the exception of Thailand, the population of the region — that also includes Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam — is young, with more than 20 per cent of its residents below 15 years of age. In 2015, the combined total GDP in the region amounted to $673 billion, and the middle classes are growing right across the region. 
 
Japan’s renewed interest in the region is fuelled by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s enthusiasm for the US-inspired ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy’, which also ropes in India and Australia. China views this as a strategy to contain Beijing’s economic rise and increasing political clout in the region. Under Japan’s new initiative that has targeted mainly Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, it is not only funding building of highways, railways and bridges, but also trade facilitation through the training of human capital for better flows of people and goods. A major criticism of the BRI has been the emphasis on the building of infrastructure and the lack of attention to building human resources in the countries concerned.&nbsp;

This has led to suspicions that China is building these trade routes for its own benefit and not to promote two-way trade. The ASEAN, whose membership includes all the Mekong countries plus five others, is worried that the increasing rivalry between Asia’s two major powers may sideline the ASEAN-centrality strategy of the regional grouping with respect to development issues. 
 
During the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s meeting in Singapore in August 2018, it was emphasized that the ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy should respect ‘Asean-centrality’ in building the regional economic architecture. At the same meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China would welcome the Japanese initiative for security and economic cooperation in the region, but warned that it needs more funding than what Japan is offering. The Japanese government has pledged $ 110 billion towards ‘high-quality’ infrastructure projects in Asia.

The Chinese government, over the last few years, has pledged some $4 trillion for numerous infrastructure projects in developing countries, that has the potential to make Asia the centre of the global economy. When China announced its grand Silk Route revival initiative (later renamed BRI) a few years ago, Japan expressed scepticism. But in May 2017, Abe sent a special envoy to the BRI forum in Beijing. And at the Hamburg G20 summit in July 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Abe met and discussed Japan’s interest in collaborating with China in implementing the BRI. While perceived disputes in the South China Sea have global attention, there is a greater conflict brewing along the Mekong river, where China has formed its own Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) organisation.

At the 2016 MLC Summit, China pledged $10 billion in preferential loans and another $10 billion in credit for the five countries to develop the region. It has triggered some 132 development projects in the region, but that includes building dams along the river that has upset Vietnam which is downstream. “It is impossible to discuss the LMC without putting it into the context of the BRI. The Mekong sub-region represents a key area for the BRI,” argues Nguyen Khac Giang, lead political researcher at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi. 
 
He points out that the so-called “signature projects” of the LMC, such as the Kunming-Bangkok road, China-Laos railway and Long Jiang Industrial Park (in Vietnam) are in the BRI framework; and most of the finance for LMC projects will come from China, either through the LMC special fund or the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund.” The link with China’s ‘initiative of the 21st Century’ indicates that the LMC is part of a bigger bid by Beijing to seek a leadership role in the region, notes Giang. In the 1970s, Japan was credited with having helped the development of South East Asia with strategic investments in setting up industrial parks, where Japanese companies set up manufacturing plants to make use of the region’s cheap labour.

China began its investment in South East Asia much later and started committing funds for infrastructure development after 2000. China’s initiatives for connectivity gained momentum in 2013 when President Xi Jinping proposed the BRI.

“In the colonial past, the Mekong region was divided between two rival powers: Great Britain and France,” notes Furuoka. “With recent developments, the Mekong countries may want to work out an astute and ingenious diplomatic policy to counteract potentially contradicting interests in the region. Otherwise, they could once again find themselves becoming a ‘playground’ for rival powers in Asia,” he warns. 
 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-sino-japan-rivalry-intensifies-in-asia-s-growth-region-2672774">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

While China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been in the news for a while, Japan is slowly funding the building of supplementary trade corridors in the Mekong region, projecting itself as not only interested in building infrastructure but also trade facilitation through the human capacity building in the region.

While China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been in the news for a while, Japan is slowly funding the building of supplementary trade corridors in the Mekong region, projecting itself as not only interested in building infrastructure but also trade facilitation through the human capacity building in the region. With a growth rate exceeding 5 per cent and a combined population of over 240 million, the Mekong region, which was devastated by the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s, has now emerged as a new growth centre of Asia. With the exception of Thailand, the population of the region — that also includes Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam — is young, with more than 20 per cent of its residents below 15 years of age. In 2015, the combined total GDP in the region amounted to $673 billion, and the middle classes are growing right across the region. Japan’s renewed interest in the region is fuelled by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s enthusiasm for the US-inspired ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy’, which also ropes in India and Australia. China views this as a strategy to contain Beijing’s economic rise and increasing political clout in the region. Under Japan’s new initiative that has targeted mainly Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, it is not only funding building of highways, railways and bridges, but also trade facilitation through the training of human capital for better flows of people and goods. A major criticism of the BRI has been the emphasis on the building of infrastructure and the lack of attention to building human resources in the countries concerned. This has led to suspicions that China is building these trade routes for its own benefit and not to promote two-way trade. The ASEAN, whose membership includes all the Mekong countries plus five others, is worried that the increasing rivalry between Asia’s two major powers may sideline the ASEAN-centrality strategy of the regional grouping with respect to development issues. During the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s meeting in Singapore in August 2018, it was emphasized that the ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy should respect ‘Asean-centrality’ in building the regional economic architecture. At the same meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China would welcome the Japanese initiative for security and economic cooperation in the region, but warned that it needs more funding than what Japan is offering. The Japanese government has pledged $ 110 billion towards ‘high-quality’ infrastructure projects in Asia. The Chinese government, over the last few years, has pledged some $4 trillion for numerous infrastructure projects in developing countries, that has the potential to make Asia the centre of the global economy. When China announced its grand Silk Route revival initiative (later renamed BRI) a few years ago, Japan expressed scepticism. But in May 2017, Abe sent a special envoy to the BRI forum in Beijing. And at the Hamburg G20 summit in July 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Abe met and discussed Japan’s interest in collaborating with China in implementing the BRI. While perceived disputes in the South China Sea have global attention, there is a greater conflict brewing along the Mekong river, where China has formed its own Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) organisation. At the 2016 MLC Summit, China pledged $10 billion in preferential loans and another $10 billion in credit for the five countries to develop the region. It has triggered some 132 development projects in the region, but that includes building dams along the river that has upset Vietnam which is downstream. “It is impossible to discuss the LMC without putting it into the context of the BRI. The Mekong sub-region represents a key area for the BRI,” argues Nguyen Khac Giang, lead political researcher at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi. He points out that the so-called “signature projects” of the LMC, such as the Kunming-Bangkok road, China-Laos railway and Long Jiang Industrial Park (in Vietnam) are in the BRI framework; and most of the finance for LMC projects will come from China, either through the LMC special fund or the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund.” The link with China’s ‘initiative of the 21st Century’ indicates that the LMC is part of a bigger bid by Beijing to seek a leadership role in the region, notes Giang. In the 1970s, Japan was credited with having helped the development of South East Asia with strategic investments in setting up industrial parks, where Japanese companies set up manufacturing plants to make use of the region’s cheap labour. China began its investment in South East Asia much later and started committing funds for infrastructure development after 2000. China’s initiatives for connectivity gained momentum in 2013 when President Xi Jinping proposed the BRI. “In the colonial past, the Mekong region was divided between two rival powers: Great Britain and France,” notes Furuoka. “With recent developments, the Mekong countries may want to work out an astute and ingenious diplomatic policy to counteract potentially contradicting interests in the region. Otherwise, they could once again find themselves becoming a ‘playground’ for rival powers in Asia,” he warns. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Sino-Japan rivalry intensifies in Asia’s growth region

Embattled leader Aung San Suu Kyi vowed Monday to increase transparency over her government's handling of the Rohingya crisis while pitching for foreign investment in Myanmar ahead of a regional summit in Tokyo.

Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has seen a sharp fall from grace due to her failure to speak up following a brutal military crackdown on Myanmar's Rohingya minority.

"I'm ready to acknowledge that we have challenges to face particularly with regard to the Rakhine and with the struggles we have on the peace front," Suu Kyi said in a speech before Japanese businessmen, referring to Myanmar's westernmost state where the minority dwelled.

"We are not hiding this fact from our friends," she said.

In the speech ahead of the summit in Tokyo, Suu Kyi said she was aware that peace and stability in her country were necessary for attracting foreign investment.

"We understand that peace, reconciliation, harmony, stability, rule of law, human rights -- all these have to be taken into consideration when we are looking for more investment, for greater economic opportunities," she said.

"We wish to be very open and transparent to our friends," she said. "If you have concerns, if you have worries, please discuss this openly with us."

A brutal military campaign that started last year drove more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in cramped refugee camps -- fearful of returning despite a repatriation deal.

Suu Kyi's supporters say her hands are tied by a still powerful military, which controls a quarter of parliament's seats and three ministries.

On Tuesday she is to hold a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who chairs the regional summit drawing Southeast Asian leaders.

Embattled leader Aung San Suu Kyi vowed Monday to increase transparency over her government's handling of the Rohingya crisis while pitching for foreign investment in Myanmar ahead of a regional summit in Tokyo.

Embattled leader Aung San Suu Kyi vowed Monday to increase transparency over her government's handling of the Rohingya crisis while pitching for foreign investment in Myanmar ahead of a regional summit in Tokyo. Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has seen a sharp fall from grace due to her failure to speak up following a brutal military crackdown on Myanmar's Rohingya minority. "I'm ready to acknowledge that we have challenges to face particularly with regard to the Rakhine and with the struggles we have on the peace front," Suu Kyi said in a speech before Japanese businessmen, referring to Myanmar's westernmost state where the minority dwelled. "We are not hiding this fact from our friends," she said. In the speech ahead of the summit in Tokyo, Suu Kyi said she was aware that peace and stability in her country were necessary for attracting foreign investment. "We understand that peace, reconciliation, harmony, stability, rule of law, human rights -- all these have to be taken into consideration when we are looking for more investment, for greater economic opportunities," she said. "We wish to be very open and transparent to our friends," she said. "If you have concerns, if you have worries, please discuss this openly with us." A brutal military campaign that started last year drove more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in cramped refugee camps -- fearful of returning despite a repatriation deal. Suu Kyi's supporters say her hands are tied by a still powerful military, which controls a quarter of parliament's seats and three ministries. On Tuesday she is to hold a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who chairs the regional summit drawing Southeast Asian leaders.

Suu Kyi promises 'transparency' over Rohingya atrocities

Japan would welcome Britain to the Pacific trade deal "with open arms" after Brexit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said in an interview published on Monday.

Abe told the Financial Times that Britain would lose its role as a gateway to Europe after Brexit, but would still be a country "equipped with global strength."

Eleven countries circling the Pacific signed a slimmed-down version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP in March -- opting to proceed with the trade deal after it was left for dead when US President Donald Trump pulled out to pursue his "America First" agenda.

The US president has since sparked fears of a trade war by levying steep tariffs and denouncing unfair trading practices.

In the interview, Abe also urged Britain and the EU to make a compromise to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

"I hope that both sides can contribute their wisdom and at least avoid a so-called disorderly Brexit," Abe said.

"I truly hope that the negative impact of Brexit to the global economy, including Japanese businesses, will be minimised," he added.

Negotiations between Britain and the EU are currently gridlocked after Brussels rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's post-Brexit plan, with the clock ticking down until departure in March 2019.

Last month Japanese car giant Toyota warned that a no-deal Brexit would temporarily halt production at its plant in Derby, central England.

Japan would welcome Britain to the Pacific trade deal "with open arms" after Brexit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said in an interview published on Monday. Abe told the Financial Times that Britain would lose its role as a gateway to Europe after Brexit, but would still be a country "equipped with global strength.

Japan would welcome Britain to the Pacific trade deal "with open arms" after Brexit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said in an interview published on Monday. Abe told the Financial Times that Britain would lose its role as a gateway to Europe after Brexit, but would still be a country "equipped with global strength." Eleven countries circling the Pacific signed a slimmed-down version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP in March -- opting to proceed with the trade deal after it was left for dead when US President Donald Trump pulled out to pursue his "America First" agenda. The US president has since sparked fears of a trade war by levying steep tariffs and denouncing unfair trading practices. In the interview, Abe also urged Britain and the EU to make a compromise to avoid a no-deal Brexit. "I hope that both sides can contribute their wisdom and at least avoid a so-called disorderly Brexit," Abe said. "I truly hope that the negative impact of Brexit to the global economy, including Japanese businesses, will be minimised," he added. Negotiations between Britain and the EU are currently gridlocked after Brussels rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's post-Brexit plan, with the clock ticking down until departure in March 2019. Last month Japanese car giant Toyota warned that a no-deal Brexit would temporarily halt production at its plant in Derby, central England.

Japan PM Abe says post-Brexit Britain welcome to join Pacific trade pact

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday he would coordinate closely with Japan during denuclearization talks with North Korea and promised to raise the issue of the abductions of Japanese citizens in his meetings in Pyongyang.

"We will have a fully coordinated, unified view of how to proceed, which will be what is needed if it is going to be successful in denuclearizing North Korea," Pompeo told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. "We will bring up the issue of the abductees as well," he said.

Abe thanked Pompeo, who arrived in Tokyo on Saturday, for coming to Japan before he meets North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday.

Pompeo also said Japan and the United States were in a position to finalise a trade agreement after Abe and US President Donald Trump discussed the issue in New York last month.

The two sides have agreed to start trade talks in an arrangement that, for now, protects Japanese automakers from further tariffs, seen as a major threat to the export-dependent economy. Trump is unhappy with Japan’s $69 billion trade surplus with the United States - nearly two-thirds of it from auto exports - and wants a bilateral agreement to address it.

Despite Kim's pledge to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, Japan, Washington's key ally in Asia, still considers North Korea to be a "dire threat," and is pushing ahead with plans to bolster its ballistic missile defenses with Aegis Ashore batteries that can target warheads in space.

Tokyo also insists that North Korea give a full accounting of Japanese citizens it abducted to train as spies and return any who are still alive before it agrees to normalise ties. A restoration of ties could lead to Japan releasing what could be billions of dollars of war reparations and economic assistance to its impoverished neighbour.

Pompeo will travel to Seoul after leaving Pyongyang and will head to Beijing before returning to the United States on Monday.

Speaking to a pool reporter en route to Tokyo, Pompeo said his aim in Pyongyang was "to make sure we understand what each side is truly trying to achieve." He also said he hoped to be able to agree a "general date and location" for a second summit between Trump and Kim following their first meeting in Singapore in June.

Pompeo's last visit to North Korea failed to make progress with Pyongyang denouncing him for making "gangster-like demands."

Recently, he angered North Korea by insisting that international sanctions must remain in place until it gives up its nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, he said there was unanimous support for this at last week's UN General Assembly, even if Russia and China "had some ideas about how we might begin to think about a time when it would be appropriate to reduce them."

He declined to say if he would agree to North Korea's demand for a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War or to South Korea's suggestion that he avoid pressing again for an inventory of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons to break the stalemate.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday he would coordinate closely with Japan during denuclearization talks with North Korea and promised to raise the issue of the abductions of Japanese citizens in his meetings in Pyongyang.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday he would coordinate closely with Japan during denuclearization talks with North Korea and promised to raise the issue of the abductions of Japanese citizens in his meetings in Pyongyang. "We will have a fully coordinated, unified view of how to proceed, which will be what is needed if it is going to be successful in denuclearizing North Korea," Pompeo told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. "We will bring up the issue of the abductees as well," he said. Abe thanked Pompeo, who arrived in Tokyo on Saturday, for coming to Japan before he meets North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday. Pompeo also said Japan and the United States were in a position to finalise a trade agreement after Abe and US President Donald Trump discussed the issue in New York last month. The two sides have agreed to start trade talks in an arrangement that, for now, protects Japanese automakers from further tariffs, seen as a major threat to the export-dependent economy. Trump is unhappy with Japan’s $69 billion trade surplus with the United States - nearly two-thirds of it from auto exports - and wants a bilateral agreement to address it. Despite Kim's pledge to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, Japan, Washington's key ally in Asia, still considers North Korea to be a "dire threat," and is pushing ahead with plans to bolster its ballistic missile defenses with Aegis Ashore batteries that can target warheads in space. Tokyo also insists that North Korea give a full accounting of Japanese citizens it abducted to train as spies and return any who are still alive before it agrees to normalise ties. A restoration of ties could lead to Japan releasing what could be billions of dollars of war reparations and economic assistance to its impoverished neighbour. Pompeo will travel to Seoul after leaving Pyongyang and will head to Beijing before returning to the United States on Monday. Speaking to a pool reporter en route to Tokyo, Pompeo said his aim in Pyongyang was "to make sure we understand what each side is truly trying to achieve." He also said he hoped to be able to agree a "general date and location" for a second summit between Trump and Kim following their first meeting in Singapore in June. Pompeo's last visit to North Korea failed to make progress with Pyongyang denouncing him for making "gangster-like demands." Recently, he angered North Korea by insisting that international sanctions must remain in place until it gives up its nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, he said there was unanimous support for this at last week's UN General Assembly, even if Russia and China "had some ideas about how we might begin to think about a time when it would be appropriate to reduce them." He declined to say if he would agree to North Korea's demand for a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War or to South Korea's suggestion that he avoid pressing again for an inventory of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons to break the stalemate.

Pompeo pledges coordination with Japan in North Korea talks, to raise abduction issue

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on.

"I conducted the cabinet reshuffle today in order to get off to a powerful start for the building of a new country," Abe told a televised news conference.

"I want to maintain the framework of my government management in a stable manner," he said.

But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs.

The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

"It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University.

"Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP.

After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition.

During the news conference, Abe voiced hopes to submit a plan to parliament later this year but vowed to seek "wide support" as his junior coalition partner Komeito has insisted there is no need to be hasty.

Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat".

Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan".

Abe described Iwaya as "an expert on security."

But Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity.

"Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said.

"His capability as defence chief remains unknown."

Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet.

Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on. "I conducted the cabinet reshuffle today in order to get off to a powerful start for the building of a new country," Abe told a televised news conference. "I want to maintain the framework of my government management in a stable manner," he said. But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs. The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. "It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University. "Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP. After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition. During the news conference, Abe voiced hopes to submit a plan to parliament later this year but vowed to seek "wide support" as his junior coalition partner Komeito has insisted there is no need to be hasty. Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation. In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat". Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan". Abe described Iwaya as "an expert on security." But Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity. "Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said. "His capability as defence chief remains unknown." Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet. Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

Japan PM Abe names new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on.

But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs.

The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

"It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University.

"Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP.

After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition.

Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat".

Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan".

Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity.

"Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said.

"His capability as defence chief remains unknown."

Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet.

Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday replaced his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise left key government positions largely unchanged. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on. But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs. The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. "It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University. "Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP. After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition. Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation. In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat". Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan". Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity. "Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said. "His capability as defence chief remains unknown." Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet. Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.

Japan PM Shinzo Abe appoints new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/antiguan-prime-minister-government-committed-extraditing-choksi-ministry-external">Antiguan Prime Minister, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/antiguan-prime-minister-government-committed-extraditing-choksi-ministry-external">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/antiguan-prime-minister-government-committed-extraditing-choksi-ministry-external"> committed to extraditing Choksi: Ministry of External Affairs</a>

Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, on Wednesday shared information on fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's extradition to India, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defends-supreme-court-pick-kavanaugh-says-could-change-mind-167882">Trump defends Supreme Court pick Kavanaugh but says could change </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defends-supreme-court-pick-kavanaugh-says-could-change-mind-167882">mind</a>

US President Donald Trump praised his Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday but said he would be open to withdrawing his nomination if he finds sexual assault allegations against him to be credible.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sc-verdict-babri-masjid-ram-mandir-today-timeline-key-events-167874">SC verdict on Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir today: A timeline of key events&nbsp;</a>

The Supreme Court is set to pronounce its landmark judgement today on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.&nbsp;

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer will give its verdict on a batch of pleas by Muslim groups on title dispute seeking reconsideration of the 1994 verdict that stated that a mosque was not integral to Islam.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-foreign-minister-claims-he-had-informal-meeting-trump-white-house-says-only">Pak foreign minister claims he had 'informal meeting' with Trump, US says only handshake&nbsp;</a>

US President Donald Trump had a handshake with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a luncheon in New York, the White House said, but Qureshi described it as an "informal meeting" when they discussed bilateral ties.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-abe-agree-two-way-trade-talks-japan-dodges-us-auto-tariffs-167878">Trump, Abe </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-abe-agree-two-way-trade-talks-japan-dodges-us-auto-tariffs-167878">agree</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-abe-agree-two-way-trade-talks-japan-dodges-us-auto-tariffs-167878"> two-way trade talks, Japan dodges US auto tariffs</a>

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on Wednesday to start trade talks in an arrangement that, for now, protects Japanese automakers from further tariffs, seen as a major threat to the export-dependent economy.

Antiguan Prime Minister, government committed to extraditing Choksi: Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, on Wednesday shared information on fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's extradition to India, news agency ANI reported.

Antiguan Prime Minister, government committed to extraditing Choksi: Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, on Wednesday shared information on fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's extradition to India, news agency ANI reported. Trump defends Supreme Court pick Kavanaugh but says could change mind US President Donald Trump praised his Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday but said he would be open to withdrawing his nomination if he finds sexual assault allegations against him to be credible. SC verdict on Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir today: A timeline of key events The Supreme Court is set to pronounce its landmark judgement today on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer will give its verdict on a batch of pleas by Muslim groups on title dispute seeking reconsideration of the 1994 verdict that stated that a mosque was not integral to Islam. Pak foreign minister claims he had 'informal meeting' with Trump, US says only handshake US President Donald Trump had a handshake with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during a luncheon in New York, the White House said, but Qureshi described it as an "informal meeting" when they discussed bilateral ties. Trump, Abe agree two-way trade talks, Japan dodges US auto tariffs US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on Wednesday to start trade talks in an arrangement that, for now, protects Japanese automakers from further tariffs, seen as a major threat to the export-dependent economy.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Japan is working on arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with one possibility including the premier's visit to Pyongyang around August, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday.

Citing multiple government sources, the paper said officials from the two countries had been in contact several times in recent months to negotiate a possible meeting between the two leaders.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump this week agreed to halt joint US-South Korean military exercises after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, drills Japan's defence minister said were "vital" for East Asian security.

North Korea fired at least two missiles over Japan last year as it sought to develop a weapon capable of reaching the US&nbspmainland with a nuclear warhead.

Japan is expected to contribute towards the costs of North Korea's denuclearisation but only after the International Atomic Energy Agency restarts inspections, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Abe has made the resolution of the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea a political pledge and has said Japan would hold back economic assistance until those issues, along with denuclearisation, are resolved.

If Abe's visit to Pyongyang proves difficult, Japan is eyeing another scenario for Abe to meet Kim on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in September in Vladivostok, if the North Korean leader attends, the paper said.

A government source familiar with the matter said that Japanese officials planned to discuss the summit meeting with North Korean officials at an international conference on Northeast Asian security to be held on Thursday and Friday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The person added that it was still unclear whether Abe would attend the conference in Vladivostok in September when his ruling Liberal Democratic Party is due to hold a leadership race.

Citing multiple government sources, the paper said officials from the two countries had been in contact several times in recent months to negotiate a possible meeting between the two leaders

Japan is working on arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with one possibility including the premier's visit to Pyongyang around August, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday. Citing multiple government sources, the paper said officials from the two countries had been in contact several times in recent months to negotiate a possible meeting between the two leaders. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump this week agreed to halt joint US-South Korean military exercises after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, drills Japan's defence minister said were "vital" for East Asian security. North Korea fired at least two missiles over Japan last year as it sought to develop a weapon capable of reaching the US&nbspmainland with a nuclear warhead. Japan is expected to contribute towards the costs of North Korea's denuclearisation but only after the International Atomic Energy Agency restarts inspections, a spokesman said on Wednesday. Abe has made the resolution of the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea a political pledge and has said Japan would hold back economic assistance until those issues, along with denuclearisation, are resolved. If Abe's visit to Pyongyang proves difficult, Japan is eyeing another scenario for Abe to meet Kim on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in September in Vladivostok, if the North Korean leader attends, the paper said. A government source familiar with the matter said that Japanese officials planned to discuss the summit meeting with North Korean officials at an international conference on Northeast Asian security to be held on Thursday and Friday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The person added that it was still unclear whether Abe would attend the conference in Vladivostok in September when his ruling Liberal Democratic Party is due to hold a leadership race.

Japan eying Abe-Kim summit with possible Pyongyang visit: Report

After successfully concluding his talks with North Korea, President Trump said the <a href="http://wionews.com/world/great-epoch-making-significance-says-north-koreas-ally-china-on-trump-kim-talks-143846">deal with Kim was a "great thing for China"</a>.

"Making a deal is<a href="http://wionews.com/world/us-has-dropped-war-games-in-korean-peninsula-ready-to-change-the-world-says-trump-after-meeting-kim-143832"> a great thing for the world, it's </a>also a great thing for China, I can't imagine that China is happy with someone having nuclear weapons so close, so China is very happy," Trump told reporters in Singapore.&nbsp

China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role".

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/this-is-what-kim-jong-un-and-donald-trump-ate-at-the-singapore-summit--143783">Also Read:&nbspThis is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit</a>

Trump said he would call Xi, probably before he lands in Washington on his way back from Singapore, to tell him about the results of the meeting. He said he would be including Beijing in follow-up discussions.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said an "important milestone" was reached towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after the successful completion of Trump-Kim talks in Singapore on Tuesday.

"The summit held in Singapore was an important milestone in the advancement of sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula," Guterres said in a statement.

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader.

Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim.

Guterres urged the leaders to "seize this momentous opportunity" and offered UN help to achieve North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme as promised by Kim during his meeting with President Trump.

One of the key UN permanent members Russia said that the mere fact that the meeting took place was a "positive step". Japanese PM Shinzo Abe too welcomed the Trump-Kim summit calling it a "first step" towards denuclearisation.

"Through this US-North Korea summit, Chairman Kim Jong Un's intent for complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was confirmed in writing," Abe said.&nbsp

"I support this as a first step to the comprehensive resolution of issues concerning North Korea," the Japanese PM added.

<iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eGm2GmFr4bA" width="560"></iframe>

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said an "important milestone" was reached towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula

After successfully concluding his talks with North Korea, President Trump said the deal with Kim was a "great thing for China". "Making a deal is a great thing for the world, it's also a great thing for China, I can't imagine that China is happy with someone having nuclear weapons so close, so China is very happy," Trump told reporters in Singapore. China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role". Also Read:&nbspThis is what Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump ate at the Singapore summit Trump said he would call Xi, probably before he lands in Washington on his way back from Singapore, to tell him about the results of the meeting. He said he would be including Beijing in follow-up discussions. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today said an "important milestone" was reached towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after the successful completion of Trump-Kim talks in Singapore on Tuesday. "The summit held in Singapore was an important milestone in the advancement of sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula," Guterres said in a statement. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader. Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim. Guterres urged the leaders to "seize this momentous opportunity" and offered UN help to achieve North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme as promised by Kim during his meeting with President Trump. One of the key UN permanent members Russia said that the mere fact that the meeting took place was a "positive step". Japanese PM Shinzo Abe too welcomed the Trump-Kim summit calling it a "first step" towards denuclearisation. "Through this US-North Korea summit, Chairman Kim Jong Un's intent for complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula was confirmed in writing," Abe said. "I support this as a first step to the comprehensive resolution of issues concerning North Korea," the Japanese PM added.

Deal with North Korea great for the world, also for China, says Trump

Kazuhiro Hasegawa has been driving a taxi in Tokyo for three years. It's a job he enjoys, despite 18-hour shifts.

But recently, he said, it has not been enough to make ends meet.

The 4.5 million-4.8 million yen ($41,110-$43,850) a year he makes from his primary job is far short of what he needs to cover a mortgage and university for his son, Hasegawa said.

"I have no choice but to work two jobs, as income is unstable," said Hasegawa, 51, who earns several thousand yen a month from a side job shooting and editing videos for&nbsp;businesses. "There's no rest. I try to avoid being short of sleep as that would cause trouble driving a taxi."

Japanese workers like Hasegawa are signing up for second jobs in record numbers to earn extra cash as wages stagnate, stirring hopes of a rise in consumer spending but adding to fears of overwork in a society notorious for long hours.

Facing a labour crunch, many companies welcome the influx of part-time workers. And the government has loosened rules that banned or discouraged employees from taking second jobs.

The result is that a record 7.44 million Japanese will work at least two jobs this year - or about 11 per cent of the workforce - up from 5.33 million in 2015, according to Lancers Inc, which helps freelancers find jobs.

That lags behind countries like the US, which have been embracing the "gig economy" for longer. About 20 per cent of the US workforce had second jobs in 2017, data show.

The shift in Japan aligns with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's goal of creating a workforce that can adapt to economic changes and offer more individual freedom, which he says will promote growth.

Indeed, people working two jobs will contribute an estimated 7.8 trillion yen to the economy, Lancer's data showed.

But there is a dark side.

Japanese workers need to put in roughly 11 per cent more hours than they did in 1997 to make the same salary. In the meantime, Tokyo's annual cost of living for an average household is about $3,300 a month, government data shows, a 6 per cent decrease from 1997.

Working two or three jobs to make ends meet undercuts the government's "work-style reform" efforts, including proposed caps on overtime in response to cases of "karoshi," literally death by overwork.

"It could raise the risk that one person ends up working over 100 hours (of overtime) by assuming 50-hour jobs at two firms," said Kotaro Kurashige, an attorney of Anzai Law Office, who represents management in labour disputes.

"What the government is trying to do is full of inconsistencies," he said. "Making up for cuts in overtime pay by assuming side jobs elsewhere is like putting the cart before the horse."

The emerging trend highlights the decline of Japan's lifetime employment system, in which workers in the decades after World War Two were guaranteed job security in exchange for devotion to their employers.

Such positions are much rarer these days. A large number of workers taking second jobs would traditionally be nearing retirement age nearly half of Japanese workers with two jobs are older than 50, according to Lancers.

"There's no such thing as lifetime employment anymore," said Masaki Shimizu, 32, who on top of his regular job at internet start-up En Factory Inc, runs a coffee shop where patrons can pet live hedgehogs and has two other side jobs.

"I need these side jobs to master new skills and expand my own strengths," Shimizu said.

Natsuko Anastasia Ariyama, 25, said she earned about 200,000 yen a month from her full-time job as a university staffer and an additional 20,000 yen from a side job as a writer and translator. She does not get overtime pay, nor has she gotten a raise.

"I have started doing a second job last year to earn spending money," she said, adding that the extra work gives her a sense of security as well.

Attracting Talent

Japanese companies have traditionally demanded that their workers be fully committed to their employers.

But more are softening their views on the subject, including Rohto Pharmaceutical Co, SoftBank Group Corp, photocopier maker Konica Minolta Inc and Shinsei Bank Ltd.

Diaper maker Unicharm Corp in April started letting its 1,500 full-time employees hold second jobs. The decision was made partly to lure workers amid a labour shortage and to encourage current employees to acquire new knowledge and skills.

"We judged that benefits from side jobs outweigh potential risks such as overwork, leakage of information and brain drain," said Yukinari Watanabe, a senior human resources manager of Unicharm.

So far only one employee, a man in his 50s, has responded, asking to become a basketball coach for middle and high school students.

"We need to be a company that will attract capable workers," Watanabe said. "We also feel that workers need to acquire skills that can be used anywhere as you never know what may happen in this era of uncertainty."

New Rules

After Abe called for more labour mobility, the government has tried to clear the way for companies to allow side jobs.

In January, the labour ministry removed a rule banning second jobs without an employer's permission. Now workers must only inform their employer before taking on another job.

But recent cases of people working themselves to death have also led Abe's government to propose labour reforms such as a cap on overtime of 100 hours per month.

Many workers count on overtime pay, however, and caps would reduce that income, said Hisashi Yamada, research director at Japan Research Institute.

So as long as people can skirt that by taking additional jobs, the trend of working for more than one company will probably continue, Yamada said.

But if it spreads workers too thin, it could erode Japanese employment culture, Yamada said.

"Many Japanese firms still want employees to focus on their main job, so Japan won't turn into a country like America right away, where gig economy jobs are widely available," he said.

Facing a labour crunch, many companies welcome the influx of part-time workers

Kazuhiro Hasegawa has been driving a taxi in Tokyo for three years. It's a job he enjoys, despite 18-hour shifts. But recently, he said, it has not been enough to make ends meet. The 4.5 million-4.8 million yen ($41,110-$43,850) a year he makes from his primary job is far short of what he needs to cover a mortgage and university for his son, Hasegawa said. "I have no choice but to work two jobs, as income is unstable," said Hasegawa, 51, who earns several thousand yen a month from a side job shooting and editing videos for businesses. "There's no rest. I try to avoid being short of sleep as that would cause trouble driving a taxi." Japanese workers like Hasegawa are signing up for second jobs in record numbers to earn extra cash as wages stagnate, stirring hopes of a rise in consumer spending but adding to fears of overwork in a society notorious for long hours. Facing a labour crunch, many companies welcome the influx of part-time workers. And the government has loosened rules that banned or discouraged employees from taking second jobs. The result is that a record 7.44 million Japanese will work at least two jobs this year - or about 11 per cent of the workforce - up from 5.33 million in 2015, according to Lancers Inc, which helps freelancers find jobs. That lags behind countries like the US, which have been embracing the "gig economy" for longer. About 20 per cent of the US workforce had second jobs in 2017, data show. The shift in Japan aligns with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's goal of creating a workforce that can adapt to economic changes and offer more individual freedom, which he says will promote growth. Indeed, people working two jobs will contribute an estimated 7.8 trillion yen to the economy, Lancer's data showed. But there is a dark side. Japanese workers need to put in roughly 11 per cent more hours than they did in 1997 to make the same salary. In the meantime, Tokyo's annual cost of living for an average household is about $3,300 a month, government data shows, a 6 per cent decrease from 1997. Working two or three jobs to make ends meet undercuts the government's "work-style reform" efforts, including proposed caps on overtime in response to cases of "karoshi," literally death by overwork. "It could raise the risk that one person ends up working over 100 hours (of overtime) by assuming 50-hour jobs at two firms," said Kotaro Kurashige, an attorney of Anzai Law Office, who represents management in labour disputes. "What the government is trying to do is full of inconsistencies," he said. "Making up for cuts in overtime pay by assuming side jobs elsewhere is like putting the cart before the horse." The emerging trend highlights the decline of Japan's lifetime employment system, in which workers in the decades after World War Two were guaranteed job security in exchange for devotion to their employers. Such positions are much rarer these days. A large number of workers taking second jobs would traditionally be nearing retirement age nearly half of Japanese workers with two jobs are older than 50, according to Lancers. "There's no such thing as lifetime employment anymore," said Masaki Shimizu, 32, who on top of his regular job at internet start-up En Factory Inc, runs a coffee shop where patrons can pet live hedgehogs and has two other side jobs. "I need these side jobs to master new skills and expand my own strengths," Shimizu said. Natsuko Anastasia Ariyama, 25, said she earned about 200,000 yen a month from her full-time job as a university staffer and an additional 20,000 yen from a side job as a writer and translator. She does not get overtime pay, nor has she gotten a raise. "I have started doing a second job last year to earn spending money," she said, adding that the extra work gives her a sense of security as well. Attracting Talent Japanese companies have traditionally demanded that their workers be fully committed to their employers. But more are softening their views on the subject, including Rohto Pharmaceutical Co, SoftBank Group Corp, photocopier maker Konica Minolta Inc and Shinsei Bank Ltd. Diaper maker Unicharm Corp in April started letting its 1,500 full-time employees hold second jobs. The decision was made partly to lure workers amid a labour shortage and to encourage current employees to acquire new knowledge and skills. "We judged that benefits from side jobs outweigh potential risks such as overwork, leakage of information and brain drain," said Yukinari Watanabe, a senior human resources manager of Unicharm. So far only one employee, a man in his 50s, has responded, asking to become a basketball coach for middle and high school students. "We need to be a company that will attract capable workers," Watanabe said. "We also feel that workers need to acquire skills that can be used anywhere as you never know what may happen in this era of uncertainty." New Rules After Abe called for more labour mobility, the government has tried to clear the way for companies to allow side jobs. In January, the labour ministry removed a rule banning second jobs without an employer's permission. Now workers must only inform their employer before taking on another job. But recent cases of people working themselves to death have also led Abe's government to propose labour reforms such as a cap on overtime of 100 hours per month. Many workers count on overtime pay, however, and caps would reduce that income, said Hisashi Yamada, research director at Japan Research Institute. So as long as people can skirt that by taking additional jobs, the trend of working for more than one company will probably continue, Yamada said. But if it spreads workers too thin, it could erode Japanese employment culture, Yamada said. "Many Japanese firms still want employees to focus on their main job, so Japan won't turn into a country like America right away, where gig economy jobs are widely available," he said.

Second jobs, once rare in Japan, are reshaping attitudes about work

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pm-abe-for-permanent-dismantling-of-north-koreas-nuclear-programme-white-house-140509">Trump, PM Abe for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pm-abe-for-permanent-dismantling-of-north-koreas-nuclear-programme-white-house-140509">permanent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pm-abe-for-permanent-dismantling-of-north-koreas-nuclear-programme-white-house-140509"> dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear programme: White House</a>

Ahead of talks with Kim, US President Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe agreed that North Korea should completely dismantle it's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cbse-class-10-results-to-be-declared-at-4-on-tuesday-140528">CBSE class 10 results to be declared at 4 on Tuesday</a>

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will announce&nbspClass 10 examinations&nbspresult on Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fuel-prices-continue-to-mount-for-16th-straight-day-140503">Fuel prices continue to mount for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fuel-prices-continue-to-mount-for-16th-straight-day-140503">16th</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fuel-prices-continue-to-mount-for-16th-straight-day-140503"> straight day</a>

The escalating fuel prices in the country spilt into its 16th consecutive day as petrol price per litre in Delhi climbed to Rs 78.43. Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata witnessed petrol prices breaking the Rs 80+ mark at Rs 86.24, Rs 81.43 and Rs 81.06 respectively.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/war-veterans-slam-president-donald-trump-for-his-self-congratulatory-memorial-day-tweet-140523">War veterans slam Donald Trump for his self-congratulatory Memorial Day tweet</a>

United States President Donald Trump joined Americans in paying tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the military services. However, the president's twitter wishes did not go very well with the war veterans and sparked an outcry on social media.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ex-isi-chief-on-no-fly-list-faces-inquiry-into-revelations-made-in-his-book-140501">Ex-ISI chief on 'no-fly list' faces </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ex-isi-chief-on-no-fly-list-faces-inquiry-into-revelations-made-in-his-book-140501">inquiry</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ex-isi-chief-on-no-fly-list-faces-inquiry-into-revelations-made-in-his-book-140501"> into revelations made in his book</a>

Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI's former chief Lt Gen (retd.) Asad Durrani has been banned from leaving the country and will face a Court of Inquiry over a controversial book he recently co-authored with India's former intelligence head.

&nbsp

Trump, PM Abe for permanent dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear programme: White House Ahead of talks with Kim, US President Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe agreed that North Korea should completely dismantle it's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs. CBSE class 10 results to be declared at 4 on Tuesday The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will announce&nbspClass 10 examinations&nbspresult on Tuesday. Fuel prices continue to mount for 16th straight day The escalating fuel prices in the country spilt into its 16th consecutive day as petrol price per litre in Delhi climbed to Rs 78.43. Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata witnessed petrol prices breaking the Rs 80+ mark at Rs 86.24, Rs 81.43 and Rs 81.06 respectively. War veterans slam Donald Trump for his self-congratulatory Memorial Day tweet United States President Donald Trump joined Americans in paying tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the military services. However, the president's twitter wishes did not go very well with the war veterans and sparked an outcry on social media. Ex-ISI chief on 'no-fly list' faces inquiry into revelations made in his book Pakistan's powerful spy agency ISI's former chief Lt Gen (retd.) Asad Durrani has been banned from leaving the country and will face a Court of Inquiry over a controversial book he recently co-authored with India's former intelligence head.

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Monday that it is "imperative" to completely dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, the White House said.

The US and Japanese leaders will meet ahead of a much-anticipated summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un back on schedule for June 12 in Singapore just days after Trump announced he was cancelling it.&nbsp;

The American president said the summit could go ahead as planned following a more appealing statement from Pyongyang and productive talks with North Korean officials.

Japan, which has by far the hardest line compared to neighbours China and South Korea, has been left uneasy by the pace of events, and by what it sees as an unwarranted softening toward an untrustworthy Pyongyang.

Abe and Trump spoke by telephone a day after American and North Korean officials met at a border truce village to prepare for the summit.

During a telephone call, the pair "discussed recent developments in North Korea and confirmed they would meet again to continue close coordination in advance of the expected meeting between the United States and North Korea," a White House statement read.

"The president and prime minister affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs."

Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief.&nbsp;

Pyongyang has a different view of denuclearization and remains deeply worried that abandoning its deterrent would leave the country -- and its leader -- vulnerable, especially while the United States maintains a robust military presence in South Korea.

The US and Japanese leaders will meet ahead of a much-anticipated summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un back on schedule for June 12 in Singapore

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Monday that it is "imperative" to completely dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, the White House said. The US and Japanese leaders will meet ahead of a much-anticipated summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un back on schedule for June 12 in Singapore just days after Trump announced he was cancelling it. The American president said the summit could go ahead as planned following a more appealing statement from Pyongyang and productive talks with North Korean officials. Japan, which has by far the hardest line compared to neighbours China and South Korea, has been left uneasy by the pace of events, and by what it sees as an unwarranted softening toward an untrustworthy Pyongyang. Abe and Trump spoke by telephone a day after American and North Korean officials met at a border truce village to prepare for the summit. During a telephone call, the pair "discussed recent developments in North Korea and confirmed they would meet again to continue close coordination in advance of the expected meeting between the United States and North Korea," a White House statement read. "The president and prime minister affirmed the shared imperative of achieving the complete and permanent dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missile programs." Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for sanctions and economic relief. Pyongyang has a different view of denuclearization and remains deeply worried that abandoning its deterrent would leave the country -- and its leader -- vulnerable, especially while the United States maintains a robust military presence in South Korea.

Trump, Abe say 'imperative' to dismantle North Korean weapons

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday Japan was disappointed by the cancellation of the summit between the US and North Korean leaders, saying it was necessary to make progress.

"In the future we need such a meeting -- it is indispensable to resolve the problems which have accumulated," he said at Russia's annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg.

Shinzo Abe said the summit was 'indispensable to resolve the problems which have accumulated'

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday Japan was disappointed by the cancellation of the summit between the US and North Korean leaders, saying it was necessary to make progress. "In the future we need such a meeting -- it is indispensable to resolve the problems which have accumulated," he said at Russia's annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg.

Trump-Kim summit 'indispensable' for resolving North Korea crisis: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Russia and Japan should sign a peace treaty so that they can realise their economic cooperation ambitions.

Russia and Japan have not signed an official peace treaty after World War Two due to a dispute over a number of Pacific islands off the northeast coast of Japan.

Abe, speaking at an economic forum in Russia attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the islands could become a symbol of cooperation between Tokyo and Moscow.

Russia and Japan have not signed an official peace treaty after World War Two due to a dispute over a number of Pacific islands off the northeast coast of Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Russia and Japan should sign a peace treaty so that they can realise their economic cooperation ambitions. Russia and Japan have not signed an official peace treaty after World War Two due to a dispute over a number of Pacific islands off the northeast coast of Japan. Abe, speaking at an economic forum in Russia attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the islands could become a symbol of cooperation between Tokyo and Moscow.

Need peace treaty with Russia to promote economic cooperation: Japan PM

Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him that he would like to further promote coordination towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific.&nbsp

Modi will visit Japan this year for annual India-Japan Summit.

Japan-India summit telephone conversation began at 4:35 pm and lasted for nearly 20 minutes.&nbsp

During the conversation, Abe conveyed his heartfelt sympathies over the fact that there have been enormous damages, including many lives lost, due to the dust storm which hit areas around Northern India twice this month.

Prime Minister Abe also stated that he would like to further promote coordination and cooperation towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific and open a new window.

Both the leaders also held discussions on regional issues with a focus on Asia.

Prime Minister Modi stated that he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to Japan this year, to which Prime Minister Abe noted that he would like to fully coordinate for a fruitful visit of Modi.

Modi will visit Japan this year for annual India-Japan Summit.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him that he would like to further promote coordination towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Modi will visit Japan this year for annual India-Japan Summit. Japan-India summit telephone conversation began at 4:35 pm and lasted for nearly 20 minutes. During the conversation, Abe conveyed his heartfelt sympathies over the fact that there have been enormous damages, including many lives lost, due to the dust storm which hit areas around Northern India twice this month. Prime Minister Abe also stated that he would like to further promote coordination and cooperation towards the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific and open a new window. Both the leaders also held discussions on regional issues with a focus on Asia. Prime Minister Modi stated that he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to Japan this year, to which Prime Minister Abe noted that he would like to fully coordinate for a fruitful visit of Modi.

Japan PM Shinzo Abe, PM Modi hold telephonic conversation

A major diplomatic incident seems to have broken out over the dessert served by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.&nbsp;

Abe was visiting Israel last week.&nbsp;

News reports said things were going well and after a day of high-level meetings on May 2, Abe was served a meal at Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu's home.&nbsp;

The meal, described as "top notch", was cooked up by celebrity Israeli chef Segev Moshe.&nbsp;

Things continued to go well until the dessert was brought out — chocolates in shoes.&nbsp;

<img alt="pudding shoe.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/pudding%20shoe.jpg" width="770" />

Japanese culture abhors shoes.&nbsp;

Like in many homes in India, the Japanese do not wear shoes inside the home.&nbsp;

But the Japanese take it a step further, and reportedly do not wear shoes inside the office too.&nbsp;

The news reports added that the Japanese think of nothing as "lower" than a shoe. &nbsp;

As expected, a furore followed with both Japanese officials and Israeli diplomats who've served in Japan saying the move was not funny.&nbsp;

Moshe later issued a clarification saying the shoe holding the chocolates was not a "real shoe"&nbsp;but a sculpture (made of cast metal)&nbsp;by the artist Tom Dixon.&nbsp;

The officials and diplomats&nbsp;however replied to that saying that before you serve a prime minister a meal, you should do at least a little reading up on them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The meal, described as "top notch", was cooked up by celebrity Israeli chef Segev Moshe

A major diplomatic incident seems to have broken out over the dessert served by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Abe was visiting Israel last week. News reports said things were going well and after a day of high-level meetings on May 2, Abe was served a meal at Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu's home. The meal, described as "top notch", was cooked up by celebrity Israeli chef Segev Moshe. Things continued to go well until the dessert was brought out — chocolates in shoes. Japanese culture abhors shoes. Like in many homes in India, the Japanese do not wear shoes inside the home. But the Japanese take it a step further, and reportedly do not wear shoes inside the office too. The news reports added that the Japanese think of nothing as "lower" than a shoe. As expected, a furore followed with both Japanese officials and Israeli diplomats who've served in Japan saying the move was not funny. Moshe later issued a clarification saying the shoe holding the chocolates was not a "real shoe" but a sculpture (made of cast metal) by the artist Tom Dixon. The officials and diplomats however replied to that saying that before you serve a prime minister a meal, you should do at least a little reading up on them.

Netanyahu serves Japan's Shinzo Abe dessert — in a shoe, furore follows

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has told South Korean president Moon Jae-in that he would shut his Nuclear weapons plan after United States promise not to invade North Korea The New York Times reported the South Korean government spokesperson saying on Sunday.

Kim Jong Un said this during a historic faith building summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at Panmunjom.

During that summit, he announced to close the country's nuclear test site in May in presence of experts and journalists from South Korea and the United States to make it more transparent. They also agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons.

Their summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from the North Korean leader.

The office also said North Korea would change its time zone - currently half an hour different - to match that of the South, a BBC report said.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-Un has also agreed to have a dialogue with Japan "any time", Seoul's presidential office said Sunday, after the historic North-South Summit.&nbsp;

Abe told Moon that Tokyo intends to work to hold a bilateral summit with Pyongyang, adding that he hopes Moon will mediate if necessary, the Blue House said.

Kim Jong Un said this during a historic faith building summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at Panmunjom

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has told South Korean president Moon Jae-in that he would shut his Nuclear weapons plan after United States promise not to invade North Korea The New York Times reported the South Korean government spokesperson saying on Sunday. Kim Jong Un said this during a historic faith building summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at Panmunjom. During that summit, he announced to close the country's nuclear test site in May in presence of experts and journalists from South Korea and the United States to make it more transparent. They also agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons. Their summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from the North Korean leader. The office also said North Korea would change its time zone - currently half an hour different - to match that of the South, a BBC report said. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-Un has also agreed to have a dialogue with Japan "any time", Seoul's presidential office said Sunday, after the historic North-South Summit. Abe told Moon that Tokyo intends to work to hold a bilateral summit with Pyongyang, adding that he hopes Moon will mediate if necessary, the Blue House said.

Kim Jong-un says he’ll denuclearise if US promises not to invade

US President Donald Trump on Saturday informed about his conversation with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the recent development on the Korean Peninsula.

The historic meeting between Moon and North Korean leaders Kim Jong-Un on Friday culminated in a mutual promise to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and take immediate measures to initiate denuclearisation.&nbsp;

Trump took to Twitter saying that he had a "very good talk" with President Moon. He also noted that the time and the location for his upcoming meeting with Kim Jon-Un have also been decided.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea is being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/990225456233316354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea are being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations," read Trump's tweet.

US President Donald Trump had a busy week meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.&nbsp;

In a press conference with Merkel on Friday, Trump noted having a "very good working relationship" with Kim Jong-Un and that he thinks that "some very good things can happen" with North Korea.&nbsp;

Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader in May-June.&nbsp;

Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader in May-June

US President Donald Trump on Saturday informed about his conversation with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the recent development on the Korean Peninsula. The historic meeting between Moon and North Korean leaders Kim Jong-Un on Friday culminated in a mutual promise to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and take immediate measures to initiate denuclearisation. Trump took to Twitter saying that he had a "very good talk" with President Moon. He also noted that the time and the location for his upcoming meeting with Kim Jon-Un have also been decided. Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea is being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018 × "Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea are being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations," read Trump's tweet. US President Donald Trump had a busy week meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In a press conference with Merkel on Friday, Trump noted having a "very good working relationship" with Kim Jong-Un and that he thinks that "some very good things can happen" with North Korea. Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader in May-June.

Trump has 'very good talk' with Moon, Abe over Korean Peninsula

shinzo-abe

Shinzo Abe, News on Shinzo Abe, stories on Shinzo Abe, articles on Shinzo Abe, Shinzo Abe stories at Wion, Shinzo Abe news, Shinzo Abe latest news

shinzo abe

PM Modi my most 'dependable' friend: Japan's Shinzo Abe

Modi meets Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, they will discuss defence and regional security

PM Modi gifts handcrafted stone bowl, dhurries to Japanese premier

PM Modi leaves for two-day visit to Japan

China, Japan to forge closer ties at 'historic turning point'

Japan's PM Shinzo Abe says to work with China on North Korea issue

The imperative of strengthening India’s ties with Japan

Japan, China strike deals during Abe visit as ties improve

PM Modi on two-day visit to Japan starting October 28

Japan's PM Shinzo Abe makes rare China visit as relations thaw

Under pressure on trade from US, Japan PM to make first visit to China in 7 years

Japan, India negotiating military logistics pact in tightening of ties

PM Modi to visit Japan on October 28-29 for India-Japan annual summit

Sino-Japan rivalry intensifies in Asia’s growth region

Suu Kyi promises 'transparency' over Rohingya atrocities

Japan PM Abe says post-Brexit Britain welcome to join Pacific trade pact

Pompeo pledges coordination with Japan in North Korea talks, to raise abduction issue

Japan PM Abe names new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle

Japan PM Shinzo Abe appoints new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle

News brief: Big stories of the day

Japan eying Abe-Kim summit with possible Pyongyang visit: Report

Deal with North Korea great for the world, also for China, says Trump

Second jobs, once rare in Japan, are reshaping attitudes about work

News brief: Big stories of the day

Trump, Abe say 'imperative' to dismantle North Korean weapons

Trump-Kim summit 'indispensable' for resolving North Korea crisis: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe