Japan and India hold security talks

Indian PM Narendra Modi is to discuss economic and security ties with Japan's Shinzo Abe, on his first major foreign visit since winning May's election, the BBC reported.

The leaders are likely to accelerate talks on a nuclear energy pact and sign an agreement on rare earths.

The trip is being seen as an attempt by the two democracies to balance the rising weight of China across Asia.

Mr Modi arrived in Japan on Saturday and visited the former imperial city of Kyoto over the weekend.

"I am confident that my visit will write a new chapter in the annals of the relations between Asia's two oldest democracies and take our Strategic and Global Partnership to the next higher level," Mr Modi said ahead of his visit.

Media reports say Mr Abe will tell Mr Modi at Monday's talks that Japan aims to double its direct investment in India in five years from some $2bn (£1.2bn) last year.