1.   

PM Manmohan Singh meets Japanese Emperor, discusses bilateral ties

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called on Japanese Emperor Akihito and discussed bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest. Singh accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur met the Emperor and the Empress of Japan at the luncheon at Imperial Palace here ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral strategic ties, yesterday said India sees Japan as a "natural and indispensable partner" in its quest for stability and peace in Asia.

2.   

India probably world's 3rd largest economy: OECD

India has probably surpassed Japan to become the world's third largest economy after the US and China, Paris-based think-tank OECD said today even as it lowered the country's economic growth projection for 2013 to 5.3 per cent. "China will likely pass the United States as the world's largest economy in the next few years and India has probably recently surpassed Japan to be third largest," said the OECD Economic Outlook report.

3.   

India-US business ties: Nancy Powell sees room for growth

Noting that there was great scope of further strengthening US-India business ties, US Ambassador Nancy Powell today said both sides need to see where they can best help each other. "I am very enthusiastic about our ever-increasing business ties. Trade brings people together, creates jobs, and provides countless new opportunities for people in both of our countries. "There is plenty of room for growth, and we need to see where both countries can best help each other since a healthy balance of trade is essential between countries," she said.

4.   

PM's Thai visit to elevate ties into 'strategic partnership'

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives here on Thursday on a day's visit to reinforce India's "Look East" policy, recognising Thailand as a key gateway to the ASEAN region and seeking to elevate bilateral ties into a "strategic partnership". Ahead of Singh's visit, the Thai Foreign Ministry said the bilateral meeting "reflects the desire of the two sides to elevate Thai-Indian relations to a strategic partnership, as announced in January last year."