Japan hopes India will sign nuclear test ban treaty

Japan on Tuesday expressed the hope that India would sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) but kept the door open for civil nuclear cooperation, saying it will be an important agenda for the future.

"I express the hope that India will sign and ratify the CTBT," Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters here at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) said with regard to the CTBT (that) should US and China sign, it will create a new situation," Hatoyama said.

"We discussed civil nuclear cooperation. This would become a very important agenda in the future," Hatoyama said.

Manmohan Singh underlined India's impeccable record in nuclear non-proliferation and pitched force the civil nuclear cooperation with Japan.

Hatoyama is on his maiden trip to India to forge a stronger security and economic partnership.