Japan-India economic ties are lagging behind New Delhi's business links with China and need to be bolstered, India's prime minister told Japan's parliament Thursday, calling for a strategic partnership between the two countries. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday, was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and hold a luncheon with business leaders Friday. He also planned to launch talks for an economic partnership agreement with Japan. The Indian leader said there was much room for expansion of business links with Japan, home of the world's second-largest economy. «Economic ties must be the bedrock of our relationship and a strong push is required in this area,» he told parliament. «Our trade and investment ties are well below potential.» In contrast, he said that India's trade with China and South Korea grew about 40 percent last year, pointing out that China's trade with India was three times Japan-India trade. «To exploit the full potential of our economic cooperation, we need strong efforts by our two governments, business and industry,» Singh said. Singh also singled out science and technology, energy security, the struggle against terrorism and U.N. reform as common interests that the two countries could work on together. Singh delivered a similar message in his separate meetings with the Japanese trade and foreign ministers Thursday. The Indian leader and Japan's Trade Minister Akira Amari agreed to set up bilateral high-level conference to discuss energy issues, as part of an effort to boost bilateral economic partnership, ministry official Yasunari Igarashi said. India's huge population and booming economy is prompting energy consumption and environmental concerns, and Japan can contribute its know-how on conservation and environmental technology, Igarashi said. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso promised Singh that Japan is committed to continuing its support for India's infrastructure and social development. The Indian leader, who was accompanied by a business delegation, also urged Japanese to expand their presence in India, according to a report of the Associated Press.
