Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's office is an architectural marvel. Spiffy and elegant, the foyer has exquisite installations and sculptures. The prime minister, immaculately dressed in a pin-striped suit, met Bishwadeep Moitra a week before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Tokyo. Excerpts from an interview:
Do you see the visit of Dr Manmohan Singh as marking a new beginning in Indo-Japanese ties?
Will your government support India when the nuclear issue comes before the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)?
How do you see Japan's foreign policy towards India vis-a-vis Pakistan? Do you see India emerging as a leader in Asia in fighting terrorism?
The clandestine role of Pakistan in North Korea's nuclear programme is now well documented. How do you propose to address the issue?
Mr Prime Minister, what precise strategic content do you have in mind that would enable the scripting of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (EPA) between India and Japan?
After this visit by Dr Manmohan Singh, will India get most favoured nation status from Japan?
This interview appeared earlier on the website on December 8, 2006
