The Spokesperson in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Syed Akbaruddin informed that an agreement on social security and a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in rare earth industry in India have been signed between the two countries in Tokyo on Friday.

The agreement on social security was signed between the Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Indian Ambassador to Japan Ms Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa.

The MoU for cooperation in rare earth industry in India was signed between the Japanese Vice Minister for International Affairs Nobuhiko Sasaki and Indian Ambassador to Japan Ms Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa.

This shows the promptness and effectiveness of the diplomats on both sides claimed the Governments of the two countries.

The annual India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership Summit Dialogue was scheduled to take place in Tokyo on November 15-18.

According to sources it was Japan which wanted to defer the Summit Meeting.

The Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told Parliament on Wednesday he would agree to dissolve Parliament on November 16 and hold elections in December if the Opposition agreed to pass electoral system reforms.

On November 15 the Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda telephoned the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh earlier in the day in the context of the fast paced political developments in Japan. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the fact that the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership is stronger than ever before. Keeping in view that the dissolution of the Japanese Lower House of Parliament would be announced on November 16 it was felt that the visit to Japan of the Indian Prime Minister can take place at a later date.

Reviewing bilateral relations, the two Prime Ministers also welcomed the conclusion of the Agreement between India and Japan on Social Security as well as the Memorandum on Cooperation in the Rare Earths Industry in India and looked forward to early signing of these two documents.

The two Prime Ministers reiterated their desire to maintain the schedule of Annual Summits and agreed that fresh dates for the visit of Indian Prime Minister to Japan will be discussed through diplomatic channels.