TOKYO: The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived here this evening on the first leg of his three nation tour. Beside Japan he will also visit Malaysia and Vietnam.
A high level delegation including External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and a business delegation led by Mukesh Ambani is accompanying him.
The Prime Minister’s main engagement in Tokyo will be Summit level talks with his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan. Cooperation in Civil Nuclear Energy, High Technology Trade, Security and the role of Group of four countries, G-4 to push urgent reforms at the UN Security Council are among the issues which are likely to come up at the talks.
The highlight of the visit will be the announcement of the much awaited conclusion of the negotiations of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, CEPA, with Japan. Some MoUs to further their bilateral cooperation including the one on easing visa restrictions are likely to be signed during the visit.
In his departure message in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said that the strategic and global partnership between India and Japan is important for peace, prosperity and stability in Asia and the world. He said, Japan is a major economic partner of India and their trade and economic relationship is all set to enter a new phase.