New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will Friday leave for a two-day visit to Japan, the world’s second largest economy, for the third annual strategic dialogue between the two countries.
This will be Krishna’s first bilateral visit outside South Asia since he assumed office.

Krishna will hold delegation-level talks with his counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone on a wide range of bilateral and global issues, including the intensification of economic and commercial ties and the global financial crisis.

Climate change will be also be an important theme in the discussions that take place days ahead of the G8 summit in Italy on July 9-10.

He will also officially inaugurate the new building of the Indian embassy in Tokyo, and will meet members of the Indian community in Japan, the external affairs ministry said here Monday while announcing Krishna’s visit.

Besides meeting his counterpart, Krishna will call on Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

With Japan backing consensus for India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) last year, there will also be discussions on the prospects of nuclear business between the two countries, reliable sources said.

Japan is one of the world leaders in civil nuclear technologies and depends on nuclear power for around 50 percent of its energy needs.

Japanese multinational Toshiba, which bought the US’ Westinghouse, is eyeing nuclear business opportunities in India, but the stringent regulations governing nuclear trade in Japan may come in the way.