Sep 17 - BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

Japan and India agreed Wednesday to strengthen cooperation on energy-saving measures in key industrial sectors, Japanese officials said.

During the third ministerial meeting of energy policy dialogue between the two countries, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai agreed with India's Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia that Japan will support New Delhi's initiative of setting up energy efficiency centres, the officials said.

Japan is expected to offer training programmes and expertise for the setup, the officials said, adding that the two countries are planning to carry out a wide range of model projects in key energy consuming industries, including the power and coal sectors, they said.

Nikai and Ahluwalia agreed in Tokyo that "focusing on key energy consuming sectors could enhance the effectiveness of respective national energy efficiency polices," said a joint statement signed by them.

They also recognized that the so-called sectoral approaches "could be a useful method for improving energy efficiency," the statement said.

As of 2005, Japan is the world's fourth-biggest carbon dioxide emitter after the United State, China and Russia, according to 2007 data by the International Energy Agency.

India, the world's fifth-largest emitter, is expected to become the third largest by around 2015 and that global policymakers believe New Delhi's enhanced efforts to save energy are important for addressing climate change.

The officials said Japan and India will hold the fourth ministerial meeting in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time in 2009.

Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1128 17 Sep 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.