Multi-disciplinary Indo-Japanese group to enhance economic ties
Vientiane, Laos: India and Japan have agreed to set up a multi-disciplinary group to enhance economic ties focussing on trade, investment and information technology.

The decision was taken at a meeting here between the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and his Japanese counterpart, Junichiro Koizumi. Officials said the group was likely to be set up in early 2005.

Dr. Singh also had bilateral meetings with the Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. India and Singapore agreed for a detailed discussion on the proposal for forming the ``Asian arc of prosperity'' made in response to Dr. Singh's idea of an Asian Economic Community at the recent India-ASEAN Business summit held in Delhi and Mumbai. Officials said Dr. Singh's meeting with Loong was marked by "enormous cordiality.''
India has offered assistance to Laos in information technology and other areas, and assured Vietnam of help in joining the World Trade Organisation.

The offer was made by the Prime Minister in separate meetings with the Laos President, Khamtay Siphandone, and the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Phan Van Khai, where they discussed bilateral and other matters of mutual interest, the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, told reporters.

During the 45-minute meeting on the second day of Dr. Singh's three-day visit here to attend the third India-ASEAN summit tomorrow, the Laos President reiterated his country's support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council.
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Pakistan tests missile and warns India and US against weapons sale
Islamabad: Pakistan has said that sale of weapons to India by the US would accentuate the arms race in the subcontinent. A Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman was reacting to reports that US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld planned to offer weapons for sale, during his proposed visit to India.

"Induction of such sophisticated systems could accentuate the arms race which we should avoid at all costs," the spokesman said. He also hinted that the issue could figure prominently during the talks between President Pervez Musharraf and President George Bush in Washington on December 4. The "asymmetry" of conventional balance needs to be corrected in favour of Pakistan, he said.

He however denied that the test firing of Ghaznavi missile today was in reaction to India's testing of Akash. The test was in step with the decision taken by Pakistani leadership to continue to maintain the pace of the nuclear and missile programme, he added.
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