New Delhi, Nov 6 Defence Minister AK Antony will be leaving for Japan on Saturday on an official visit at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa to review the on-going defence related interactions between both the countries and to explore ways to enhance such exchanges to the mutual benefit.

This will be the first visit of a Cabinet Minister to Japan after the taking over of the new DPJ led Government in Japan.

The conduct of joint exercises between Armed Forces of both the countries and exchange of students in the defence training institutions of both the countries would also be discussed with the Japanese side.

In addition, possibilities of coordination of efforts in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and other maritime security challenges are also likely to be discussed.

The Defence Minister will be accompanied by the Defence Secretary, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri and senior officials from the Armed Forces.

The Minister will return home on November 10, 2009.

The bilateral security and defence cooperation between India and Japan are guided by the Joint Statement issued by the Defence Ministers of both sides during the visit of the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Japan in May 2006 and the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India which was issued during the visit of PM Dr. Manmohan Singh to Japan in October 2008. (ANI)