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Japanese, Russian foreign, defense ministers to meet in Moscow on July 31

The sides are expected to discuss the peace treaty issue

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono

© AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

TOKYO, July 27. /TASS/. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will visit Moscow on July 31 and attend a "2+2" format meeting between the Japanese and Russian foreign and defense ministers, the Japanese Foreign Ministry told a news conference on Friday.

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"I’m heading to Russia to take part in the "2+2" format talks due in Moscow on July 31," Taro Kono said.

The Japanese foreign minister will hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the ministry said. At the upcoming talks in Moscow the sides plan to discuss "issues linked to signing the peace treaty, and also key issues of the international agenda." During the negotiations the sides will also discuss security and Russian-Japanese economic cooperation.

The first "2+2" Russian-Japanese meeting was held in Tokyo in November 2013. However, negotiations were frozen because of the Ukrainian crisis and Tokyo’s decision to join anti-Russian sanctions. A decision on a new meeting was made during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan in December 2016. It took place in Tokyo in March 2017.

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