India and Japan share a long-term relationship structured over half a century, which forms the bedrock of Indo-Japanese cooperation today. Both countries share great affinity ona number of issues with interests converging in areas such as energy and similar concerns about the security of sea lanes, of communication, WMD proliferation and terrorism.The India-Japan Declaration of December 10,2001 has further set the ball rolling for things to shape up in Indo-Japanese relationship in the 21st century.

Both, India and Japan are currently going through economic reforms in different forms and shapes with the ultimate object of architecting a stronger economy. While Japan is implementing structural economic reforms, India is in the process basic economic reforms. India is now the largest partner for Japan's yen loan, and both countries support each others' candidacy for permanent membership of the UNSC.

Against the backdrop of these positive developments, one finds the Indo-Japanese trade relations and economic cooperation growing stronger over the years. Given the major role that India and Japan can play in global and regional security issues and also for economic development of the region, and the critical importance of our bilateral relations, especially in the realm of trade and commerce, the formation of the India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians is an ideal platform to enhance inter-parliamentarian linkages between the two entities.

The India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians (IJFP) was launched under the auspices of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) by the Hon'ble Union Minister for External Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh on Friday, April 29, 2005 at Federation House, on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, to India. The launch was attended by the The Hon'ble Masaaki Yamazaaki, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Government of Japan, Ambassador of Japan to India, H.E. Yasukuni Enoki, as well as several members of the Indian Parliament.

The IJFP is chaired by senior Rajya Sabha member, Ashwani Kumar of the Indian National Congress and Co-chaired by Suresh Prabhu, former cabinet minister. The launch was attended by the Ambassador of Japan to India, H.E. Yasukuni Enoki, as well as several members of Parliament.

The forum is the latest amongst other successful forums of parliamentarians with the U.S.(India-U.S Forum of Parliamentarians) , U.K (Indo-British Forum of Parliamentarians) , and Germany (Indo-German Forum of Parliamentarians) all of which are actively supported by FICCI. Recently, FICCI also launched an India-European Union Forum of Parliamentarians (IEUFP).

The IJFP, like other Forums of Parliamentarians supported by FICCI, intends on serving as a powerful group and providing a channel for constructive communication through Track II diplomacy. The Forum of Parliamentarians will also provide a structured dialogue and consistent interaction between the Parliamentarians of the two countries, to not only accentuate bilateral collaboration, but also to initiate a partnership in dimensions that have scope for further cooperation or are relatively unexplored. More significantly, such inter-parliamentarian linkages will tighten the bonds between the lawmakers of India and Japan to further the common agenda of our two countries.