MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Forming the substantive agenda of the top-level talks during the upcoming official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan is a common task of the two countries’ top diplomats, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in connection with the working visit of Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, to Moscow on December 2-3.
"Kishida’s visit to Moscow will sum up a series of bilateral contacts in political, economic, humanitarian and other areas in 2016 and will be the final stage of preparations for the upcoming official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan," the ministry said. "We proceed from the assumption that the parties’ common objective is forming a meaningful agenda for the two leaders’ meeting in Japan, which is to put relations between the two countries on a constructive track and disclose the significant potential for cooperation more fully."
"During the talks, the two ministers will raise the issue of the peace treaty," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed. "In accordance with an agreement between the two leaders, bilateral dialogue on the issue is in progress."
The ministry added that "a thorough discussion of all issues of mutual interest" is expected to take place. "Sergey Lavrov and Fumio Kishida will exchange views on both the bilateral relations, with special emphasis on bolstering political dialogue and economic cooperation and efforts to boost cooperation in international affairs," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.