The two sides also agreed to step up defense cooperation, consenting to joint military exercises, bilateral and regional cooperation in peacekeeping, disaster relief and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

The decision featured in a joint statement that was issued at the end of a comprehensive review of bilateral defense ties at a meeting between Indian Defense Minister AK Antony and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa in Tokyo.

With the agreements, India Server reported, the two ministers gave a "facelift to the existing bilateral defense cooperation."

Antony's three-day visit to Tokyo is the first by a senior Indian Cabinet minister after Japan's Democratic Party came to power in late August.

Quoting anonymous authoritative sources, The Hindu daily said the two countries "were keen on finalizing the (defense) action plan in time for the upcoming visit to India by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama."

It said the idea was first conceived during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan earlier this year.

During the Tokyo meeting earlier this week, India and Japan also condemned terrorism, underscoring the need to intensify joint operations in the fight against the global menace.

The two sides also expressed their determination to contribute to bilateral and regional cooperation in areas like the ASEAN Regional Forum, peacekeeping, peace-building and disaster relief.

Antony was accompanied to Japan by a high-ranking retinue of Indian officials, including Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Defense Ministry scientific adviser VK Saraswat and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral DK Dewan.

Defense analysts say the focus on Indo-Japanese strategic is linked to India's bid to counter China's growing reach in the region. It is also part of Japan's and India's "overdependence on Arabian Gulf oil and the need to ensure its smooth flow," Defense News reported.

Piracy incidents off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden were also discussed during the Tokyo talks.

The navies of both countries are already involved in coordinated anti-piracy operations, sharing the burden of patrolling in the Gulf of Aden.

There is "common interest in the safety of sea lines of communications," the joint statement said.

The agreement coincides with Japan's decision to provide $5 billion in fresh aid to Afghanistan despite plans to recall refueling ships supporting U.S.-led forces there.

U.S. President Barack Obama is due to arrive in Tokyo later this week.

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