Japan Premier Yoshihiko Noda today telephoned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the fast paced political developments in his country, a day after Dr.Singh cancelled his Japan visit due to political developments there. Official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs, Syed Akbaruddin said,the two Prime Ministers welcomed the fact that the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership is stronger than ever before. Keeping in view that the dissolution of the Japanese Lower House of Parliament will be announced on November 16th, it was felt that the visit to Japan of the Prime Minister of India can take place at a later date.

Reviewing bilateral relations, the two Prime Ministers also welcomed the conclusion of the Agreement between India and Japan on Social Security as well as the MoU on Cooperation in the rare earths industry in India and looked forward to early signing of these two documents. The two agreements were to be inked during Dr.Singh's visit for the bilateral summit.

Dr.Singh was to visit Japan for three days in the first leg of his two-nation tour beginning today to November 20th. The second leg of visit to Cambodia for ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits will take place as scheduled from November 18th.