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Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are welcomed during their visit to the Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, yesterday. The royal couple arrived in India on Saturday for a six-day visit.
New Delhi: Japan yesterday said its ties with India were warm and friendly and unencumbered by any “pending issues to resolve”, unlike with China, and New Delhi has now replaced Beijing as the largest recipient of Tokyo’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Sakutaro Tanino, press secretary to visiting Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, made clear that Japan’s relations with China and with India were “totally different” and should not be viewed together.
Tanino said India-Japan ties are marked by “mutual warm sentiments for each other” and there are “no big pending issues to resolve, unlike with China ... and with no territorial disputes or problems”.
Japan and China are locked in a territorial dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea.
Japan had increased its ODA to China following the 1992 visit by the Emperor and Empress to Beijing. Aid has, however, declined following their conflict over the islands, which are believed to be rich in hydrocarbons and other minerals.IANS
