News Summary: India, Japan discuss maritime issues

MARITIME INTEREST: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday that India and Japan share a strong strategic interest in expanding cooperation on maritime security and promoting regional stability.

JAPAN VISIT: Ensuring that sea lanes remain open and free is vital for the region's prosperity, given its dependence on oil imports from the Middle East, Singh said on a four-day Japan visit.

CHALLENGES: India has sought to cultivate closer ties with Japan and other Asian countries, while upgrading its military capabilities, partly in response to a perceived challenge from China and also from neighboring Pakistan.