MOSCOW, November 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and Japan are prepared to continue active and constructive political dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday upon the results of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit in Tokyo.
The Russian minister held talks with Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and participated in the Two Plus Two negotiations between the minsters of foreign affairs and defence of the countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. The first round of the Two Plus Two consultations in the history of Russian-Japanese relations was organized according to the agreement reached at the top level.
The negotiators “shared the views on vital problems of global and regional security,” the ministry said. “Russia laid down the country’s principled approaches to the construction of a new security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the assessment of Japanese-U.S. plans to create missile defence. The countries reached an agreement on broader military exchanges that, according to both sides, will contribute to the strengthening of trust between Russia and Japan and will have positive influence on security in the region,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
“At the talks on international problems the Syrian settlement, the situation on Korean Peninsula, in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear programme and several other topical issues were discussed,” the ministry stated. “The countries said they are prepared to build up well-coordinated efforts to combat modern threats and challenges, such as international terrorism, the spread of mass destruction weapons, drug trafficking and transnational crime. The interlocutors noted mutual intentions to broaden cooperation in order to build up security and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, including within key multilateral structures (the East Asia summits, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the ASEAN Regional Forum).
“The foreign ministers discussed the whole scope of relations between the countries. They have outlined concrete ways to promote bilateral ties. The ministers confirmed that the countries are prepared to continue active and constructive political dialogue, particularly at top and high levels,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
“Welcoming positive dynamics in trade and investment cooperation, the ministers called for expanding cooperation with the focus on modernization, innovative, energy and investment components. The ministers noted the importance of deeper cooperation in the regions of Siberia and Russia’s Far East,” the ministry added.
“The ministers confirmed mutual intentions to continue the talks over the problem of a peace treaty in calm and constructive way, without public debates,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “They noted that a mutually acceptable solution to this issue may be found through active joint efforts for comprehensive development of bilateral relations to bring them on the level of true partnership,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. Upon the results of the visit the plan of consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the countries was signed for 2014-2015.