India, Japan express desire for a strategic and global partnership - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

India and Japan on Monday expressed their common desire to further consolidate, enhance and expand the strategic and global partnership between them in the second decade of the 21st Century. Holding extensive talks on bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Japan ’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan , through a joint statement, on Monday reiterated the fundamental identity of values, interests and priorities between the two countries. Reaffirming the political commitment in both countries cutting across party lines and the popular desire for upgrading bilateral relations, the two leaders valued their cooperation for sustained peace and prosperity in a changing and dynamic Asia and the world. Both the leaders also reiterated the fundamental identity of values, interests and priorities between the two countries. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is currently paying an official visit to Japan for the Annual Summit of the Prime Ministers on 24-26 October 2010 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan. Expressing satisfaction at the steady growth of political exchanges, dialogue and policy coordination at all levels, Dr. Singh and Naoto Kan positively evaluated Ministerial-level annual dialogues and exchanges between Foreign Ministers, Defense Ministers and Ministers of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and External Affairs Minister, Defense Minister, Commerce and Industry Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India.