TOKYO, January 19. /TASS/. Russia’s participation is crucial to addressing many international problems, including a settlement on the Korean Peninsula, the crisis in Syria and the struggle against terrorism, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a forum held by the Japanese Institute of International Problems in Tokyo.
"Certain challenges facing the international community can be resolved only on the condition Russia takes a constructive part in resolving them," he said. Kishida mentioned "the situation involving North Korea, the threat of terrorism, and the crisis in Syria."
"The dialogue with Russia, in particular, at the political level, is mandatory," he said.
At the same time, as he mentioned the possibility of Prime Minister Sinzo Abe’s visit to Russia and of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan Kishida said nothing was settled yet.
On November 16, 2015, when the G20 summit in Antalya was in progress, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Abe might visit one of Russia’s regions before Putin’s visit to Tokyo. He added, though, that the theme of Putin’s visit would continue to be discussed.
"There is a possibility Japan’s prime minister may pay a visit to one of Russia’s regions before that. This will be a theme for discussion," Peskov said.