Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama left here for India on Sunday for talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.
At the summit, to be held on Tuesday, Hatoyama and Singh are expected to discuss ways
to strengthen a strategic partnership between the two countries, covering such topics as security cooperation, an economic partnership agreement, climate change and nuclear nonproliferation, according Kyodo News.
The two sides plan to issue a joint statement after their talks.
"I want to deepen discussions on various issues including disarmament, nuclear issues,
climate change and the economy," Hatoyama told reporters at the prime minister's office prior
to his departure.
"I hope to advance cooperative relations (with India) in a way to benefit Japan's interests as India is a region with very high growth potential," he said.
The visit came after the Indian Premier visited Japan in October last year, when New Delhi
requested that a Japanese leader visit India this year.
Japan's new Democratic Party of Japan government has attached great importance to ties
with Asian countries.