PM concludes Japan visit, leaves for Malaysia

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today concluded his 3-day visit to Japan during which the two sides decided to hasten negotiations on a civil nuclear deal and agreed on a range of other issues to take their strategic partnership to new heights.

India and Japan also announced the firming up of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, which will open trade between the two countries and slashing of taxes up to 94 per cent over the next decade.

Singh, who arrived here on Sunday, had a tight schedule which included talks with his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan, leaders from business and politics during which they discussed ways to further improve their ties.

Singh said "sky is the limit" for developing Japan-India relations, a proposition which is close to his heart.

From here, Singh, along with his wife Gursharan Kaur, left for Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur for talks with his counterpart Mohd Najib Tin Abdul Razak.

During his visit, the two sides will sign a number of pacts and announce conclusion of negotiations on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which covers range of trade aspects, including investment, services and customs.

Summing up Singh's Japan visit, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the two Prime Ministers had "comprehensive" discussions and felt the need for developing all encompassing relations covering political, economy and security aspects.

The two sides also decided to establish a ministerial level Economic Dialogue between India and Japan to give strategic and long-term policy orientation to their bilateral engagement.

The proposal was mooted by Japan, which already has such a Dialogue with China.
During the visit, Singh and Kan affirmed that cooperation in nuclear sector "will open up new opportunities for further developing the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership."

The two leaders also "encouraged" their negotiators to arrive at a mutually-satisfactory agreement for civil nuclear cooperation at an early date."