Tokyo: It was an audience that an Indian Prime Minister has never had. Manmohan Singh seized the opportunity of addressing the Diet, at a joint sitting of Japan's Parliament, to seek a strong push for economic ties between the two countries.

"Our trade and investment ties are well below potential," he argued. "This must change."

For contrast, Dr. Singh illustrated the state of India's booming trade with both China and South Korea. The China trade was three times that with Japan, and the trade with South Korea was almost equal to that with Japan, he said.

To exploit the full potential of the economic cooperation, he said that strong efforts were needed from the two governments, trade and industry. The knowledge economy was one sector where he saw the scope to build a partnership. "We must exploit the synergies in the development of Indian software and Japanese hardware," he said.

Nuclear energy

The issue of nuclear energy was not missed out. Noting that energy security was of mutual interest, Dr. Singh said that India considered nuclear power as a viable and clean energy source. "We seek Japan's support in helping put in place innovative and forward-looking approaches of the international community to make this possible." He followed up the request by saying what was not in the text initially circulated to the media: "At the same time, I wish to affirm that India's commitment to universal nuclear disarmament is unshaken." His remark that came as a calming balance to India's nuclear aspirations drew a round of applause from the packed House.

Dr. Singh went on to promise an investment friendly economic environment in India and invited Japanese companies to expand their presence in the country.

He and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would launch negotiations that would lead to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to encourage greater flows of trade, investment and technology.

Formal welcome

The speech at the Diet marked the high point of a day when Dr. Singh was accorded a formal welcome at the official residence of the Japanese Prime Minister after driving from his hotel on a route that was lined with the flags of both India and Japan. If there were a few Tokyo commuters unaware of Dr. Singh's visit, they would have been alerted to it.

And then there was the audience for Dr. Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, with the Emperor and Empress of Japan. Later, the two Prime Ministers launched the India-Japan Friendship Year 2007 and a Festival of India in Japan.

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