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Japan, Russia foreign ministers meet briefly on sidelines of ASEAN forum

Japan’s business newspaper Nikkei reported on July 19 that Japan was at the final stage of coordinating foreign minister’s trip to Russia at the end of August

22nd ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur AP Photo/Joshua Pau

22nd ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur

© AP Photo/Joshua Pau

KUALA LUMPUR, August 6. /TASS/. The foreign ministers of Japan and Russia, Fumio Kishido nd Sergey Lavrov, met briefly on Thursday on the sidelines of an ASEAN regional security forum in the capital of Malaysia, the Kyodo news agency reported.

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The news agency said the ministers had most likely exchanged opinions concerning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan this year as well a trip of the Japanese foreign minister to Russia expected prior to Putin’s visit.

Japan’s business newspaper Nikkei reported on July 19 that Japan was at the final stage of coordinating foreign minister’s trip to Russia at the end of August. This trip is seen as a key element in paving the way for Putin’s trip to Tokyo.

It said Fumio Kishido was expected to meet with his Russian counterpart, as well as with First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

The main aim of the trip, expected on August 30-31, is to discuss the thorny issue of the Northern Territories as Japan calls Russia’s Southern Kurils, as well as to pave the way for Putin’s visit before the end of this year.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov Japan ASEAN

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