Japan prime minister on official visit to India from Dec 27

Crucial matters including terrorism measures, a free trade agreement and climate issues are expected to figure predominantly during the talks between prime minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama, who will be here on his first official visit from December 27.

The new Japanese prime minister, who took over in mid-September, will discuss ways to expand, enhance and strengthen the India-Japan Strategic & Global Partnership during his meeting with Singh, a foreign office statement said here today.

They will also discuss regional and global issues, it said, adding this will be the 4th Annual Summit between the prime ministers of India and Japan since 2006.

Hatoyama, accompanied by his wife Miyuki Hatoyama and his delegation, will undertake a trip to the country's financial hub of Mumbai before returning to Japan on December 30.

Hatoyama, 62, took office after his Democratic Party of Japan swept to power in August's lower house elections, ousting the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party.