ID :
22574
Sat, 10/04/2008 - 08:44
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22574
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Singh to visit Japan for nuclear, FTA talks
Tokyo, Oct 3 (PTI) Armed with the historic Nuclear Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) waiver, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Japan this month for talks on political and economic ties, including a free trade deal, as the two Asian giants expand their strategic relations.
Singh will meet Japan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso
and have an audience with Emperor Akihito during his October
21-23 visit, Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of
the Prime Minister and Ms (Gursharan) Kaur, which will further
strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and India," it
said.
Japan is currently negotiating an economic partnership
agreement with India, with an eye on reaching a basic accord
during Singh's visit.
Indian and Japanese chief delegates are set to hold the
10th round of free trade talks from Monday in Tokyo, Kyodo
news agency reported.
Last month, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of
the Planning Commission and Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of
Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan had met in Tokyo to
discuss energy policy issues.
Japan's call on India to support a target of halving
global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and India's civil
nuclear deal with the United States are also likely to be on
the agenda of the meeting between Singh and Aso.
Japan had backed India at the N.S.G. meeting. However,
Tokyo faces criticism domestically from peace groups for its
decision to support New Delhi on the Indo-US nuclear deal
despite India's refusal to sign the N.P.T.
Japan strongly opposes proliferation of nuclear weapons
since the country was the world's only victim of atomic
bombing during World War II.
Aso, a former Japanese Foreign Minister, who was
elected Prime Minister last week, is keen to forge Japan's
strategic ties with India.
Aso was an enthusiastic supporter of the Arc of Freedom
and Prosperity, part of which was the "Asian Arc of
Democracy," in which he said the arc would include the
countries of Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, the Korean
Peninsula and Mongolia. PTI AKJ
Singh will meet Japan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso
and have an audience with Emperor Akihito during his October
21-23 visit, Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of
the Prime Minister and Ms (Gursharan) Kaur, which will further
strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and India," it
said.
Japan is currently negotiating an economic partnership
agreement with India, with an eye on reaching a basic accord
during Singh's visit.
Indian and Japanese chief delegates are set to hold the
10th round of free trade talks from Monday in Tokyo, Kyodo
news agency reported.
Last month, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of
the Planning Commission and Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of
Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan had met in Tokyo to
discuss energy policy issues.
Japan's call on India to support a target of halving
global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and India's civil
nuclear deal with the United States are also likely to be on
the agenda of the meeting between Singh and Aso.
Japan had backed India at the N.S.G. meeting. However,
Tokyo faces criticism domestically from peace groups for its
decision to support New Delhi on the Indo-US nuclear deal
despite India's refusal to sign the N.P.T.
Japan strongly opposes proliferation of nuclear weapons
since the country was the world's only victim of atomic
bombing during World War II.
Aso, a former Japanese Foreign Minister, who was
elected Prime Minister last week, is keen to forge Japan's
strategic ties with India.
Aso was an enthusiastic supporter of the Arc of Freedom
and Prosperity, part of which was the "Asian Arc of
Democracy," in which he said the arc would include the
countries of Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, the Korean
Peninsula and Mongolia. PTI AKJ
