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| Japan seeks new ties with India | Japan seeks new ties with India |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has stressed the need for a strategic and global partnership with India to strengthen ties between the two countries. | Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has stressed the need for a strategic and global partnership with India to strengthen ties between the two countries. |
| He told the Indian parliament that Japan had "rediscovered" India as a "partner and friend". | He told the Indian parliament that Japan had "rediscovered" India as a "partner and friend". |
| Mr Abe is also due to hold talks with Indian PM Manmohan Singh and will sign a series of major agreements, mainly aimed at doubling bilateral trade. | Mr Abe is also due to hold talks with Indian PM Manmohan Singh and will sign a series of major agreements, mainly aimed at doubling bilateral trade. |
| They are also expected to hold talks on civilian nuclear and defence deals. | They are also expected to hold talks on civilian nuclear and defence deals. |
| Analysts say India and Japan are fostering a strategic relationship which many believe is aimed at countering China. | Analysts say India and Japan are fostering a strategic relationship which many believe is aimed at countering China. |
| I am also convinced this strengthening of ties will serve world peace Shinzo Abe Japan seeks to counter China Japan firms woo India | |
| Mr Abe, who began his first ever visit to India on Tuesday, is the first foreign leader to address India's parliament since former US President Bill Clinton in 2000. | Mr Abe, who began his first ever visit to India on Tuesday, is the first foreign leader to address India's parliament since former US President Bill Clinton in 2000. |
| Earlier, Mr Abe said that ties between the two countries were stronger than ever. | Earlier, Mr Abe said that ties between the two countries were stronger than ever. |
| "Relations between the two countries now are much deeper and broader and have no comparison to what they were five decades ago," he said on Tuesday night. | "Relations between the two countries now are much deeper and broader and have no comparison to what they were five decades ago," he said on Tuesday night. |
| "I am also convinced this strengthening of ties will serve world peace," he was quoted as telling diplomats by AFP news agency. | "I am also convinced this strengthening of ties will serve world peace," he was quoted as telling diplomats by AFP news agency. |
| Trade priority | Trade priority |
| Mr Abe has arrived at the head of a major business delegation, including chief executives of Japanese companies such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Canon and Hitachi. | Mr Abe has arrived at the head of a major business delegation, including chief executives of Japanese companies such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Canon and Hitachi. |
| Trade is the main focus of the visit - it stands at nearly $7bn at present but a study by India's main Chambers of Commerce suggests it can be doubled in five years. | Trade is the main focus of the visit - it stands at nearly $7bn at present but a study by India's main Chambers of Commerce suggests it can be doubled in five years. |
| Both governments will announce a plan to jointly develop an ambitious manufacturing and freight corridor between Delhi and the financial capital, Mumbai, rather like that between Tokyo and Osaka. | Both governments will announce a plan to jointly develop an ambitious manufacturing and freight corridor between Delhi and the financial capital, Mumbai, rather like that between Tokyo and Osaka. |
| It will include a high-speed railway line, several ports and airports. | It will include a high-speed railway line, several ports and airports. |
| But perhaps the most significant aspect of the visit is development of a strategic partnership. | But perhaps the most significant aspect of the visit is development of a strategic partnership. |
| Japan was severely critical of India's nuclear tests in 1998 and suspended economic ties in its wake, but now it is willing to discuss co-operation in the field of civilian nuclear technology and even defence. | Japan was severely critical of India's nuclear tests in 1998 and suspended economic ties in its wake, but now it is willing to discuss co-operation in the field of civilian nuclear technology and even defence. |
| Mr Abe favours an alliance between Japan, Australia, the United States and India, something that is of concern to China. | Mr Abe favours an alliance between Japan, Australia, the United States and India, something that is of concern to China. |