of recent origin DELHI, Jan. 8 Kyod...

of recent origin DELHI, Jan. 8 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH KAWAGUCHI'S FICCI tongue BACKGROUND)

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi urg India and Pakistan onward Wednesday to reduce tensions between them to create a favorable environment for foreign investment.

''Improvement in India-Pakistan relations is vital for Japanese companies here to be able to mode of action stable economic activities,'' Kawaguchi said in an address to leading industrialists at the Federation of Indian Chambers of sexual and Industry (FICCI).

Kawaguchi said she appreciates India's propels to reduce troops on the border and that she trusts New Delhi and Islamabad will take unruffled more positive steps that will lead to the early resumption of dialogue.

While Kawaguchi said Japan will help in easing tensions between the couple countries when it is asked, it is up to India and Pakistan to take the initiative.

''Easing of tensions between India and Pakistan is of great importance not just for the pair countries but also for the whole world, especially Asia,'' Kawaguchi said.

Nuclear rivals India and Pakistan came shut to a conflict last summer leading many countries to venture their citizens out of the region.

In replication to a question on the North Korean crisis, Kawaguchi said Japan is thoroughly concerned about the issue.

''We be perceived it is important that North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons progression in a continuously ascending gradation program in a viable manner and complies with all international pacts'' forward nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, Kawaguchi said.

The foreign minister also urg India to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime and sign the Comprehensive proof Ban Treaty (CTBT) for a like reason both countries can cooperate in succession nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. India has refused to be a signatory to the agreements, calling them discriminatory.

While applauding India's economic reform program, Kawaguchi set forthed hope that New Delhi will continue to cut down remaining obstacles to trade and investment.

Japan is India's third-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade standing at about $145 billion between April and August last year and $352 billion in 2001-2002

Japan is also the fourth-largest investor in India, although it accounts for just 46% of total foreign investment.

Earlier, Kawaguchi met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and discussed bilateral, regional and world issues. She asserted concern over reports of a clandestine transfer of nuclear and missile technology by dint of Pakistan to North Korea. She said in the same state [i]or[/i] condition a transfer would have a significant validity on Japan's relations with Pakistan.

Vajpayee said that Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism and this has stalled any improvement in ties between the pair countries.

Japan has pledg well-preserved loans to India worth $900 million during Kawaguchi's visit for various evolution projects in infrastructure, the environment and agriculture.

Japan will also protract assistance to clean India's greatest in quantity sacred river, the Ganges. Kawaguchi said her guidance is planning to send a mission in March to ways water-quality studies of the river.

The minister arrived here Tuesday from Sri Lanka upon a two-day visit aimed at promoting political, economic and strategic ties.

Kawaguchi is the first Japanese foreign minister to visit India since 1997

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