PM to undertake five-day visit to Japan, Thailand from Monday

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake a five-day official visit to Japan and Thailand from Monday.

He will first visit Japan from May 27 to May 29 and then visit Thailand on May 30 to 31.

The focus of the visit to Japan is expected to be on strategic content and ways to expand bilateral energy and economic ties, while the visit to Bangkok will be aimed at signing a long awaited extradition treaty between the two countries.

Singh will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on issues of mutual interest and discuss ways to bolster strategic and global partnership between the two countries, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said Friday.

Abe is known to be a strong advocate of greater India-Japan strategic ties.

Energy and economic ties form a vital part of Singh agenda in Japan. Both leaders are set to affirm their commitment for the early conclusion of the bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact.

"Discussions have given some impetus recently. There are a number of stages we have to go through before we reach the signature. I can't put a date on it. We would certainly like to conclude this", Mathai said about the nuclear pact.

The two sides are also have seen cooperation in gas sector and India is eyeing for greater Japanese investment in India. The two sides are also looking at signing pacts in the fields of education and tourism.