(a) whether the former Japanese Prime Minister visited India recently as a special envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the objective of the visit; and
(d) the extent to which the visit is likely to help in strengthening the cooperation between the two countries?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b) Mr. Yoshiro Mori, former Japanese Prime Minister visited India on 28-30 October 2001 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan. The visit was at the initiative of the Government of Japan. Mr. Mori called on Prime Minister, Home Minister and Raksha Mantri.
(c)-(d): Mr. Mori carried a letter from PM Koizumi addressed to our PM, which, inter alia, expressed appreciation of Government of India`s cooperation with the international community in the fight against terrorism; extended condolences for the terrorist attack in Srinagar on 1 October 2001; and expressed support for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism proposed by India and presently under discussion at the UN. The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed.
The visit was part of the ongoing dialogue between India and Japan following the Global Partnership in 21st Century agreed to between Prime Ministers Vajpayee and Mori in August 2000.