n a four-day official visit to Japan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held successful talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his speech at the Diet was very well-received.
The thrust of talks has been on economic co-operation between India and Japan. The two leaders have also spoken about marking 2007 as the India-Japan friendship year, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the cultural agreement between the two countries.
The joint statement signed by the prime ministers reads - 'The Strategic and Global Partnership will involve closer political and diplomatic coordination on bilateral, regional, multilateral and global issues, comprehensive economic engagement, stronger defence relations, greater technological cooperation as well as working towards a quantum increase in cultural ties, educational linkages and people-to-people contacts'.
However, on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Japan's stand remains ambiguous. Being an important member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, its backing is essential and Dr Singh sought it actively.
Prime MInister Abe, however, remained guarded in his words, stating that Japan is yet to formulate its official policy - 'I have explained to Prime Minister Singh that Japan is the world's only victim of a nuclear attack. As such, we have our sensitivities, and I have explained those to the Indian prime minister'.
This apart, Dr Singh's visit has been a success. He and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, also visited the went to the Imperial Palace for an official audience with His Majesty Emperor Akihito, who has occupied the Chrysanthemum Throne since 1989. And, as an unexpected surprise, had a chance meeting with George Bush, Sr.
Image: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talks to Dr Singh at a joint press conference in Tokyo on December 15.
Photograph : Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images
Also See:
Dr Singh in Tokyo
When Dr Singh met Japan's King
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