Abe in Delhi talks to boost business ties

FRESH from his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos where he sought to portray China as a threat to Asian regional stability, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe flew to India during the weekend to consolidate ties with a country that Tokyo sees as a counterbalance to Chinese influence.

Although the purpose of the brief visit was partly economic - including the securing of better conditions for Japanese firms operating in India - Mr Abe's trip had strong strategic overtones, including mutual cooperation in the areas of security and sale of aerospace equipment.

He took with him a contingent of senior Japanese businessmen led by chairman of the federation of economic organisations (Keidanren) and of Sumitomo Chemical, Hiromasa Yonekura, as a symbol of Japan's desire to step up its economic presence in India.