Harper arrives in India for trade talks

Prime Minister Stephen Harperarrived in Indiaon Sunday fora three-day visit andtalkswith leaders overseeingone of the world's fast-growing economies.

Hisvisitfollows a weekend trip to Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit, where he saidCanada wants to boostinvestment opportunities in Asia.

"While Canada's economy was built through transatlantic trade, our future prosperity will increasingly depend on our ties to the Pacific. The region is home to some of the world's most dynamic and fastest growing economies," Harper said in a statement released Sunday.

During meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other officials, Harper's teamhopes to promote trade as well as nuclear co-operation.

The two sidesare expected to discuss a proposed civil nuclear agreement, which would pave the way for Canada to sell nuclear technology to India.

Nuclear trade between the two countries has been stalled since 1974, when India tested its first nuclear weapon with the unauthorized help of Canadian nuclear technology.

On Monday, Harper willhold round-table discussions in Mumbai with Indian investors doing business in Canada.

A numberof trade agreements are expected to be signedin a bid to expand bilateral trade. The two countriescurrently do less than$5 billion in trade annually.

Harper will alsotourthe city's Chabad House, the Jewish outreach centre where gunmen, laterlinked to a terror groupthat hit a number of targets in Mumbai, killed six hostagesa year ago.

Later in the day, the prime minister will deliver a speech on Canada-Indian relations and meet Bollywood star Akshay Kumar.

On Tuesday, he flies toNew Delhi. The following day, he'll bein Amritsar, where he will visit the Golden Temple.

After returning home, Harper plans to visit China from Dec. 2 to 6.