Manmohan to seek Japanese support

With the Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation Bill in the bag, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be wooing the Japanese for their support in the peaceful use of nuclear energy during his visit to the country starting December 13.

According to ministry of external affairs officials, civil nuclear energy cooperation is expected to be one of the main issues of discussions between Singh and Japanese premier Shinzo Abe.

Officials are not committing on any specific outcomes of these discussions and say that they are "ongoing" and the situation is still "evolving".

Apart from civil nuclear cooperation, a number of new FDI ventures are on the anvil in petrochemicals, automobiles, auto components, pharmaceuticals and the financial sector.

The PM will also meet Japanese Emperor Akihito and will be addressing the joint session of Japanese Parliament 'Diet'.

Foreign ministry officials, including foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, said that India attaches great importance to its relations with Japan as it considers it to be the 'focal point' in the 'Look East policy'.

"We believe that our bilateral relations are poised to enter an even more vibrant and dynamic phase based on converging long-term strategic political and economic interests and our shared desire to enhance the relationship," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said here last week while briefing media on the PM' s visit.

Singh was initially scheduled to travel to Philippines prior to Japan visit for ASEAN-India Summit, but the meet was postponed due to a brewing storm.