Seeking Japanese investments to build a "new India", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that he has come this time on a mission: to consolidate the multifaceted India-Japan strategic relations.
"Our relations have changed considerably over time and we now have a multifaceted relationship. Japan is not just a source of development aid but an important investor and partner in building Asian co-operation," Singh said at a luncheon hosted by the Indian and Japanese business community here.
"For me, each interaction with Japan has been a most pleasurable, educative and revealing one. It has revealed to me how much our two countries can do together, and how little we have done," he said. "I have come to Japan to consolidate this partnership," Singh said ahead of his summit talks with his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso. "We welcome Japanese investment in our efforts to build a new India," the Prime Minister said while thanking Tokyo for its generous aid in the form of Overseas Developmental Assistance (ODA).
India currently gets 30 per cent of all Japanese ODA, becoming the largest recipient, overtaking China.
"We are deeply grateful that India has been the largest recipient of the Japanese ODA for the last five years. Its most visible symbol is the Delhi Metro," he said.
Describing Japan as the "economic and technological powerhouse of the world", Singh noted that both nations were located in Asia to which the 21st century undoubtedly belongs.