A senior Japanese official said that Japan was currently negotiating civilian nuclear energy co-operation pacts with Russia and Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan. However, India posed a “unique problem” for Japan as it was not part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“How to analyse this in the context of the Japanese policy on proliferation and disarmament is to be worked out. We have had some explanations once from India on the deal and will need more information,” the official said, explaining Japan’s “rather neutral” stance despite India citing its good “track record”.

At the inaugural India Japan Business Leaders Forum this afternoon, Hitachi CEO Kazuo Furukawa said that the company “may consider” investing in India’s nuclear energy sector, as and when the nuclear deal is operationalised.

The two countries also agreed to lay down a roadmap to enhance strategic and global ties, which includes a group to explore collaboration for new IITs, launching a fund to make the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor a reality, an agreement on currency swaps and a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath expects it to be ready by the year-end).