India and Japan on Friday signed the Civil Nuclear Agreement in Tokyo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe inked the deal, which will allow Tokyo to supply fuel, equipment and technology to New Delhi to produce nuclear energy. The two leaders also signed a separate document with a clause that will allow Japan to terminate the pact if India conducts a nuclear test.

The agreement will enable United States-based atomic firms Westinghouse Electric Corporation and GE Energy to set up plants in India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “A landmark deal for a cleaner, greener world! Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe witness exchange of the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement.”

This is the first time that Japan has entered a deal with a country that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. After signing the pact, Modi said, “The Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy marks a historic step in our engagement to build a clean energy partnership.” The prime minister asserted that the pact will also allow the countries tackle climate change. “We see Japan as our natural partner. There is vast scope in combining our resources,” he said, adding that their “strategic partnership will bring stability, peace and balance” to both countries.

Talks were being held since December last year when Abe had visited India. As a result of political resistance to the deal in Japan, the deal could not be finalised then. India has signed similar agreements with the US, Russia, South Korea, Mangolia, France, Namibia, Argentina, Canada, Kazakhstan and Australia.