Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for Japan on Wednesday on a four-day visit which he sees as part of increasing eastern orientation of India's foreign policy.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for Japan on Wednesday on a four-day visit which he sees as part of increasing eastern orientation of India's foreign policy.
In a departure statement, the Prime Minister who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, said, he will discuss with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe ways to reinforce strategic focus in global partnership and move towards a more comprehensive economic engagement.
Singh said he will seek to develop mutually beneficial cooperation over the entire range of relationship, including security and terrorism, energy, transport, science and technology and culture.
"I see this journey as part of the increasing eastern orientation of India's foreign policy and our quest for greater engagement with countries in the larger East Asian region," the Prime Minister said.
Singh said India-Japan bilateral relations are poised to enter a new and dynamic phase, driven by a shared desire to enhance mutual relationship.
"In the evolving regional and international environment, India and Japan increasingly find that their long-term political, economic and strategic interests are converging," he said.
"I will look forward to using this visit to elevate India-Japan relations to a qualitatively new level," Singh said.
During his stay the Prime Minister will also meet Japanese Emperor and addresses the joint session of Japanese Parliament Diet.
During the Prime Minister's four-day visit, India and Japan are expected to decide on launch of talks on bilateral free trade agreement to expand commerce and discuss civil nuclear cooperation.
The two countries are also expected to agree on expansion of flights besides a number of new FDI ventures in petrochemicals, automobiles, auto components, pharmaceuticals and the financial sectors.
Civil nuclear energy cooperation are expected to be one of the main issues of discussions between Singh and Abe. The Indian side is expected to seek Japan's support for its quest for nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Discussions with Japan on civil nuclear issue in the backdrop of the Indo-US nuclear deal are ongoing and the situation is still "evolving", officials here said.
The two countries are also expected to decide on launching negotiations on bilateral free trade agreement.
"We believe that our bilateral relations are poised to enter an even more vibrant and dynamic phase based on converging long-term strategic political and economic interests and our shared desire to enhance the relationship," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said last week while briefing media on the Prime Minister's visit.
India attaches significance to the visit as it considers Japan to be a focul point in its Look East policy.
The Prime Ministerial visit takes place after a gap of five years. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Japan in December, 2001.
From the Japanese side, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited India in April, 2005. Menon said this visit represents a marked upturn and a new beginning in Indo-Japanese relations.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}