Interactive Meeting with H. E. Dr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Vice Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs of Japan, April 4, 2006

The India-Japan Forum of Parliamentarians (IJFP), and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), convened an interactive meeting with H. E. Dr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Vice Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on April 04, 2006, at Federation House. The meeting provided an opportunity to the Indian Parliamentarians to interact with the Vice Minister and discuss various issues of bilateral interests.

The meeting was attended by Parliamentarians namely Santosh Bagrodia; K. Samba Siva Rao; B. K. Deo; B. Mahtab, and S. Tarlochan Singh. Mr. Ryo Fukahori, Private Secretary to Dr. Toyama; and Ryoichi Horie, Deputy Chief of Mission; and Yuki Sakai, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy accompanied the Vice Minister.

Dr. Toyama, who represents the New Komeito Party of Japan, is a member of the House of Councillors. In the House, he serves as Director of the Committee on Health Welfare and Labour. He also serves on the Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems, and the Special Committee on Humanitarian Reconstruction Support for Iraq and Responses to Armed Attacks. In addition, he is Vice Director, International Affairs Bureau, New Komeito. In his interaction with the Parliamentarians, Mr. Toyama provided valuable insights and perceptions on the future of India-Japan relations, and further prospects of mutual collaboration.

Expressing happiness at being able to interact with the Parliamentarians, Dr. Toyama in his remarks, reflected on how India and Japan were bound together by a strong congruence of interests and values that formed a key component of bilateral ties. He also spoke of the marked improvement and positivism that had surfaced in bilateral relations in recent years. He also went on to praise the remarkable progress that had come about in the Indian economy. On the issue of bilateral trade, Dr. Toyama observed that the volume of exchange in trade between the two countries was only worth US $ 5.6 billion, and that there was still much more scope for manifold expansion.

Agreeing with the Vice Minister's remarks, that the trade volume between the two countries had declined considerably, Mr. Santosh Bagrodia, observed that it was necessary for both countries to re-energise their economic relations.

Further lauding the success of Indians in every sphere, Dr. Toyama spoke of the emergence of India as an important player on the Asian theatre as well as on the global scale. He commended India's participation in the East Asia Summit, saying that it was important for the country to be in a group that had the potential to play a major role in global affairs. Furthermore, he also appreciated the influence of Indian culture on Japanese society.

Commending the participation of Japanese companies in various sectors such as transportation, IT, and infrastructure, Mr. B K Deo particularly praised the growing contribution of Japan in India's healthcare sector. He was also eager to learn from the Vice minister as to what was the overall Japanese investment scenario in China vis-à-vis India. Responding to his query, Dr. Toyama remarked that there were 30,000 Japanese companies operating in China, as compared to 330 companies in India, and that there was huge room for Japanese companies to invest in India.

On the issue of human resource development, Dr. Toyama stated that Japan had made a significant contribution in this area, which was being implemented throughout the world. He further said this was necessary for the national infrastructure of recipient countries including agriculture, health care, education, vocational training, administration, and environmental conservation.

Further emphasizing on Indo-Japanese cooperation, Mr. Samba Siva Rao mentioned that the potential and opportunities for Japanese investment in India's steel, cement and power sectors were enormous. He also assuaged concerns that in spite of the thrust on human resource development, Japanese had focused more on imitation than on research. In this regard, Dr. Toyama replied that things had improved in the present scenario.

Lamenting on the energy scenario in India, Dr. Toyama said that India needed to improve and upgrade its energy infrastructure in order to fully achieve its energy security. He also assured the Parliamentarians that his government would continue to assist India wherever required through Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), which has been a major component of Indo-Japanese ties.

On the area of the tourism sector that was growing fast in both India and Japan, Mr. Tarlochan Singh in his comments, urged for more Japanese tourists to visit India given its rich heritage and history. Agreeing with Mr. Singh's views, Dr. Toyama laid stress on the fact that it was important for India to develop its tourist infrastructure and create a better environment to promote tourism.

In this regard, Dr. Toyama laid stress on the fact that it was important for India to create a better environment and develop its tourist infrastructure to promote its tourism growth.

In agreement with the Vice Minister's remarks, Mr. Horie further contended that transport infrastructure was still a weakness in India, and that this sector required further reform.

Reiterating the view that strengthening of the India-Japan relationship was vital, Mr. Mahtab spoke of the growing geostrategic ties between the two countries. The Vice Minister also emphasised that his country needed a stronger strategic alliance with India in order to balance the dynamics of the power game between Japan, Russia and China.

The session concluded with the Vice Minister expressing his gratitude to the Parliamentarians for their views and a candid discussion that turned out to be constructive and fruitful.