Nuke cooperation, defence ties on Singh-Hatoyama talks agenda

New Delhi, Dec 26(PTI) Civil nuclear cooperation,
enhancing of economic and defence ties are some of the key
issues to be discussed between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and his Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who
arrives in the country Sunday for his first official visit.

The new Japanese Prime Minister, who took over in
mid-September, will reach Mumbai where he will pay tributes to
the victims of 26/11 terror attacks and sign a condolence book
in Trident hotel.
He will also interact with top Indian business
leaders, including Ratan Tata, before heading to New Delhi on
Monday where he will hold delegation level talks with Singh.
"The two Prime Ministers will discuss ways to expand,
enhance and strengthen the India-Japan Strategic and Global
Partnership. They will also discuss regional and global
issues," Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vishnu Prakash said
while briefing the reporters about the upcoming visit.
Singh will also host a private dinner on Monday for
the 62-year-old Japanese leader who is accompanied by his wife
Miyuki Hatoyama and senior ministers of his government.
The two leaders will sit down for delegation-level
talks on Tuesday followed by a brief joint press interaction,
he said. This will be the 4th Annual Summit between the Prime
Ministers of India and Japan since 2006.
Asked if the two leaders will talk about cooperation
in the field of civil nuclear energy, Prakash said the "entire
gamut" is going to be discussed.
On any agreements to be signed during the visit, the
Indian Foreign Office spokesman said it was not possible to
prejudge anything.
The visit will focus on giving a political push to free
trade area negotiations and expanding the ambit of security
cooperation between the two countries.
Japan is the sixth largest investor in India with USD
three billion in investments and plays a crucial role in some
of the key infrastructure projects such as dedicated freight
corridors in the country.
The two countries signed a security cooperation agreement
during Manmohan Singh's visit last year, the second country
after the US with which Japan has inked such a pact providing
for training and capacity building.
The two countries are close to firming up an action plan
to add more content to this agreement, which will also
include joint army exercises.
Hatoyama's maiden trip to India comes against the
backdrop of Tokyo's bid to recast its relations in Asia and a
desire to forge a stronger security and economic partnership
with India, widely seen as an emerging Asian power along with
China. PTI PYK
RDM