国际英语新闻:Japan, India to enhance defense, economic cooperation

TOKYO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Japan and India agreed on Monday to enhance their security and economic exchanges and cooperation.

According to a joint statement issued after a summit meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two sides agreed to upgrade their "two-plus-two" bilateral diplomatic and security talks from the vice ministerial level to the ministerial level.

They also agreed to boost exchanges between their defense departments and industries.

Japan has also agreed to provide low-interest loans worth 316.4 billion yen (2.83 billion U.S. dollars) for seven projects in India.

The two sides also inked a 75 billion-U.S. dollar currency swap arrangement on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Modi met with Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko and Foreign Minister Taro Kono respectively.

Modi arrived in Japan Saturday for his 12th summit with Abe and left Japan Monday night.