Strong India-Japan ties key to security: PM

NEW DELHI: Terming India's ties with Japan as one of the most important, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said a strong relationship between the two countries will pay a significant role in the emerging Asian security architecture.
      
"I consider our bilateral relations with Japan to be one of the most important bilateral relationships we have. A strong India-Japan relationship will play a significant role in the emerging Asian security architecture and will contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and the world," he said before leaving for Japan on a two-day visit.
      
In his departure statement, Singh, who will hold Annual Summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso, said even though over the last four years there has been significant progress in all aspects of their bilateral ties, there is still a lot of untapped potential that remains to be realised.
      
Describing the Japanese Prime Minister as a "close friend of India", he said the two sides will review the progress that has been achieved in the bilateral ties over the last one year and set the agenda for the next year.
      
The Prime Minister will travel to Beijing from Japan to attend the 7th ASEM Summit which will be attended by India for the first time.