India has sought Japan's assistance in setting up more urban transport systems like monorail projects, intelligent transport networks and the Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS). Japan has already been extending financial assistance for the construction of Delhi Metro. Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, now in Tokyo participating in the India-Japan Business Summit, has acknowledged Japan's assistance in the development of India's urban transportation, elicited more assistance and invited investors to the Indian markets. During discussions, the Indian contingent described the need for setting up monorail both as a means of feeder system with the bigger metro rail and as independent means of transport in Tier II cities. Monorail is also being projected as a safe, reliable, economical, quick, comfortable and effective mass public transit system. The high-speed rail-based RRTS, it was pointed out, would allow people living in metropolitan suburbs within a radius of 100 km to commute to work, thereby easing pressure on the infrastructure services within the city. Discussions also covered the need for closer cooperation and sharing of knowledge in the areas of transit oriented development along mass transit corridors. Key elements of urban infrastructure including water supply, waste management and sewage disposal were also discussed. Strategic partnership These issues will now be further discussed in the working groups under the existing memorandum of understanding between the Union Ministry of Urban Development and the Japanese Ministry of Infrastructure, Land & Transport. Referring to the Indo-Japan partnership, Mr. Nath said: “The strategic partnership between India and Japan holds tremendous potential to bring prosperity and progress to our two nations. So significant has been the contribution of Japan in India and so deep-rooted is the goodwill that our relations and engagement enjoy a national consensus.” The Minister described India and Japan as the engines of Asian economy and described India as the largest “aspirational society” in the world with 25% of its population under the age of 25. Mr. Nath said the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2011 provides a wide landscape for further diversifying the business ties between our two countries and invited Japanese enterprises to invest in manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. The Minister also met Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officials and was assured of continued support for ongoing and future urban infrastructure projects. JICA has assured that it will examine technical assistance in urban monorail projects, intelligent transport systems, regional rapid transit systems, transit-oriented development for preparing a master plan and detailed project reports for other urban infrastructure projects. Mr. Nath is on a two-day visit to Japan for meetings to seek Japanese cooperation in meeting the infrastructure needs of Indian cities.