Krishna wraps up four-day visit to Japan

Krishna, who arrived here on Thursday, held wideranging discussions with his counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone on bilateral issues, including boosting economic and commercial ties.

Krishna and Nakasone co-chaired the third round of the annual strategic dialogue during which they agreed to cooperate on pressing global issues of climate change, disarmament, non-proliferation, maritime security and the global financial crisis.

He later called on Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and extended him an invitation, on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to visit India for the annual summit meeting.

The two leaders agreed to expedite work on the Dedicated Freight Corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor projects that have emerged as symbols of an emerging strategic partnership between India and Japan.

On the issue of climate change, the two countries agreed to work together for "an equitable and fair outcome" at the Copenhagen summit in December which is expected to come out with an agreement to replace the Kyoto protocol.

Yesterday, Krishna inaugurated the new chancery building of the Indian embassy here, which he described as a "fitting symbol" of the expanding partnership between India and Japan.

The ultra-modern embassy building is located in sylvan surroundings of the famed cherry-blossom boulevard and is nestled between the Yasukuni shrine and the Imperial Palace of the Emperor of Japan.

Krishna also attended a reception with the members of the Indian community here, which, he said, was playing a key role in building "new bridges" between India and Japan.

There are some 21,000 people of Indian origin in Japan and a quarter of them have come here in the past three years. Indians first came to Japan about 140 years ago.

Krishna also held meetings with the leaders of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan.