range of bilateral, regional and international issues. The joint statement, entitled "India-Japan Partnership in the New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of India-Japan Global Partnership", said the two countries reiterated their mutual support for the permanent membership of the expanded U.N. Security Council, state-run Doordarshan television reported. Both countries agreed on the importance of taking a decision on Security Council reforms before the General Assembly meeting in New York in September. They decided to strengthen their cooperation bilaterally and in the G-4 (India, Japan, Germany, Brazil). The joint statement said the two leaders agreed that their global partnership reflected a broad convergence of their long-term political, economic and strategic interests, aspirations, objectives and concerns. "As two major powers in Asia, India and Japan recognize the importance of their respective roles in the emerging international situation," it said. --More 2256 Local Time 1956 GMT
