The navies of India and Japan will hold their first-ever joint naval exercises soon, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukerjee announced on Friday.
He, however, emphasised that the purpose of such a step was 'not for aggression'.
"I am particularly happy to note that the first Joint Goodwill Exercise between the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and the Indian Navy will also take place very shortly," Mukherjee told a gathering at the prestigious Japan Institute of International Affairs.
"Our cooperation in ensuring the safety and security of sea lanes of communication, combating piracy and terrorism, search and rescue, and disaster relief must define our shared desire to contribute to Asian economic growth and security," the minister, now on a four-day official visit to Japan, for the first Ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue, said.
Mukherjee said the Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart, Taro Aso on Thursday was 'fruitful'.
Though Mukherjee did not specify a date for the naval exercise, sources told PTI that it will be held in April. He noted that India and Japan are maritime countries.
"We have individually demonstrated our capacities to contribute to maritime security," he said adding that the key to continued Asian economic prosperity lies not only in regional interaction but equally in the shared security of the sea-lanes of communication.
"Unless we can guarantee the free transit of energy and trade between the Suez Canal and the Western Pacific, Asia's economic vision may remain incomplete," Mukherjee said, noting that these routes supplied 60 percent of the world's energy requirement.
He noted that during his previous visit to Japan in May, 2006 as India's Defence Minister, he had discussed the importance of bilateral defence collaboration.
"I also welcome the expansion of our maritime cooperation through interactions between our two Coast Guards," Mukherjee said.
Responding to questions from Japanese scholars on bilateral defence cooperation, Mukherjee emphasised that the upcoming naval exercise was 'not for aggression but to safeguard regional peace and security'.
"I can assure you that it would be our endeavour to work jointly for peace and prosperity in all areas, including defence and security," the minister added.
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