India, Japan sign landmark civil nuclear deal; PM Narendra Modi thanks Shinzo Abe's support for NSG membership

India and Japan on Friday signed a landmark civil nuclear cooperation deal after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shinzo Abe, a move that will boost bilateral economic and security ties and facilitate US-based players to set up atomic plants in India.

The two countries had reached a broad agreement for cooperation in civil nuclear energy sector during Abe's visit to India in December last year, but the deal was yet to be signed as some issues were yet to be worked out.

"A landmark deal for a cleaner, greener world! PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo witness exchange of the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted on Friday.

PM Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shinzo Abe witness exchange of the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement pic.twitter.com/7Ut2LStKQi

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

PM: Our strategic partnership is not only for the good & security of our own societies. It also brings peace, stability & balance to region pic.twitter.com/FQK15boEDo

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 11, 2016

Highlights of India-Japan joint press statement-

What PM Modi said:

# Our strategic partnership will bring stability, peace and balance in both the countries.

# We see japan as our natural partner, there is vast scope in combining our resources.

# Our cooperation in this field (Civil Nuclear Agreement) will help us in tackling climate a change as well.

# Dynamism and depth of our ties has increased with passage of time with continuing commitment to our partnership.

# I wish to thank Prime Minister Abe for the support extended for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

# We are also united in our resolve to combat the menace of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism.

The deal would allow Japan to export nuclear technology to India, making it the first non-NPT signatory to have such a deal with Tokyo. It would also cement the bilateral economic and security ties as the two countries warm up to counter an assertive China.

Also read: Indo-Japan civil nuclear deal signed: Here's why it matters for India

There was political resistance in Japan - the only country to suffer atomic bombings during World War II - against a nuclear deal with India, particularly after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011.

Japan is a major player in the nuclear energy market and an atomic deal with it will make it easier for US-based nuclear plant makers Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GE Energy Inc to set up atomic plants in India as both these conglomerates have Japanese investments.

Other nations who have signed civil nuclear deal with India include the US, Russia, South Korea, Mangolia, France, Namibia, Argentina, Canada, Kazakhstan and Australia.