TOKYO, April 08. /ITAR-TASS/. The date of a visit to Russia by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has not been specified yet, but the visit as such has not been cancelled, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
The political crisis in Ukraine has not stopped Japan's preparations for Fumio Kishida’s visit to Russia, the Foreign Ministry told ITAR-TASS.
Japan “is keeping a close watch on the situation in Ukraine, including that in the eastern regions”, Kishida told a news conference on Tuesday.
“We urge all parties to show restraint,” he said.
Due to the events in Ukraine, Japan on March 18 suspended talks with Russia on easing visa travel rules and froze negotiations to sign three agreements - on investment cooperation, on partnership in outer space exploration and on the prevention of dangerous military activities.
Later, several Japanese mass media reported that Kishida’s visit to Russia had been cancelled. However, up till now the Foreign Ministry has declined to elaborate.