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Japan PM may visit India by 2011 end

September 24, 2011 10:57 IST

Japan's new Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda is expected to visit India by the end of the year, ahead of the 60th anniversary in 2012 of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The invitation was extended to Noda by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly plenary on Saturday morning.

The visit will further consolidate the bilateral relations, including economic ones, which have been intensified in recent years, between the two countries.

Among the issues discussed Friday between the two included Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and global partnership between India and Japan.

Singh noted the progress in bilateral projects, including the dedicated freight corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor.

Further, discussions on the bilateral relations are expected during Noda's visit to New Delhi, the dates for which will be worked out through diplomatic channels.

"The two sides would further deepen political dialogue, economic relations, security, cultural and people to people relations. The bilateral relations were supportive of very strong political consensus across the board in both countries," India's Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told media persons.

The one-on-one meeting, ahead of Dr Singh's address to the UNGA on Saturday also focused on reform of the Security Council and the two leaders agreed that the G-4 consultations should continue on this issue.

'It was a very close interaction between the two leaders from Asia," Mathai said
Suman Guha Mozumder in New York