India, Japan to launch joint research programmes

NEW DELHI: India and Japan have agreed to launch joint reasearch projects in various areas in attempt to boost academic cooperation between the two countries.

An Academic Dialogue of educational directors of the two countries on the sidelines of the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also resolved to kickstart a host of activities, including embarking on students' and faculty exchange programmes.
   
The Dialogue saw participation of 12 Vice Chancellors and Presidents of top universities of Japan and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences. The Indian side was represented by Directors of IITs, IIMs and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

These institutions welcomed the deepening of mutual understanding between the universities of both nations through academic exchanges and presentations.

The two sides agreed on advancing university and academic exchange programmes, including exchange of students and faculty members and conduct of joint research programmes.

Hailing the academic collaboration, they said such moves would further cement the bilateral ties between the two Asian countries.

The top academicians also agreed to hold such dialogues regularly and hoped that the governments of both countries would help in this regard.

The Japanese side was headed by Prof Yuichiro Anzai, while UGC chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat headed the Indian delegation.