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Tokyo will decide on Japan’s representation at Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations

The Moscow celebrations are expected to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

© AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky

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TOKYO, March 17. /TASS/. The Japanese government has received an invitation for the Moscow celebrations on May 9 marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Victory over Nazi Germany and plans to decide on who will represent the country at the event, Japan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman told TASS on Tuesday.

"We have received an invitation for the ceremony due in Moscow on May 9," he said. "Now we will consider the issue on who will participate in it from the Japanese side," he added.

Earlier reports said Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had been invited to attend the celebrations. The Kyodo news agency reported that Abe would personally take a decision on the participation in the events with due regard to a number of factors.

Sources told TASS that Japan was interested in the contacts of the prime minister with the leaders of other countries, including Russia and Eastern Asia. The Moscow celebrations are expected to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In 2005, the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Victory in Moscow were attended by Junichiro Koizumi, who served as Japan’s prime minister at that time. This was an important step in revitalizing relations between Russia and Japan in various areas, including the security sphere.

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Chinese president to visit Moscow for WWII Victory Day — Russia FM

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Foreign policy Japan Victory Day World War II

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