JOIN USThe Prime Minister will travel to Japan and Malaysia for bilateral visits and Vietnam for the 8th ASEAN-India Summit from October 24 to 30.
In Tokyo, civil nuclear cooperation, enhancing trade ties and UN reforms are expected to dominate the annual Summit talks that Singh will have with his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan.
The two countries have already begun talks on civil nuclear cooperation and have expressed desire to conclude an agreement in this regard as soon as possible.
The two sides are also working to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement before Singh's visit to Tokyo amid expectations that the two-way trade will witness a 10-fold increase from USD 12 billion in 2008-09.
Singh and Kan are also expected to discuss ways to re-energise the G-4 grouping that is pushing for reform of the UN, particularly expansion of the Security Council and inclusion of new permanent members.
This assumes significance as India recently was elected to the Security Council as a non-permanent member.
Besides India and Japan, the G-4 also consists of Brazil and Germany.
"The two Prime Ministers will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues," the External Affairs Ministry said today.
Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur will be received in audience by the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
The Prime Minister would also have several meetings with political leaders, parliamentarians and captains of Japanese trade and industry.