New Delhi: A high level Japanese delegation headed by Mr. Ken Matsuzawa, President of International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) and Mr. Hiroshi Hirabayashi, Advisor of FEC and former Ambassador of Japan met Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Planning, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences here yesterday. Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Ambassador of Japan accompanied the delegation.

The FEC is mandated to deepen international understanding and friendship between Japan and other nations. This meeting which was attended by over 20 members representing various sectors of the Japanese establishment is particularly important considering the establishment of Global and Strategic Partnership between India and Japan and also because the visit is intended to mark 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Japan.

During this meeting, Dr. Kumar called for further consolidation of the unique partnership between the two economic powers of Asia. He told the visiting delegation that this relationship is an essential component of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Look East Policy (LEP) towards a closer integration of India with East Asia.