India, Japan agree to step up cooperation in anti-piracy ops

India and Japan today agreed to enhance their defence ties and step up cooperation in anti- piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.

The two sides also agreed to enhance their defence relations by holding joint exercises and expressed their commitment to contribute to bilateral and regional cooperation in areas like Asean Regional Forum, peacekeeping and disaster relief.

This was stated in a joint press statement issued at the end of a meeting between defence minister AK Antony and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa here where they reviewed their existing bilateral defence cooperation.

Antony's three-day visit is the first by any Indian Cabinet Minister to Tokyo after the new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) government took over here.

Piracy incidents off the Somalian coast and Gulf of Aden came up for discussion and the two sides agreed to step up their coordinated efforts against it, officials said.

Already, Indian and Japanese navies are coordinating efforts in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to share the burden of patrolling in the sea brigand-infested waters.