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Japan's economy minister to play key role in ties with Russia — diplomat

The ministers will create a platform for exchanges between small and medium-sized businesses

VLADIVOSTOK, September 2. /TASS/. Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, recently appointed to a newly established position of the minister overseeing the development of economic ties with Russia, will play a key role in advancing bilateral cooperation in accordance with the Japan-proposed eight-point cooperation plan, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Yasuhisa Kawamura told TASS on Friday.

"Minister Seko will play a key role in advancing cooperation on that plan (proposed by the Japanese prime minister in Sochi on May 6)," the spokesman said.

Already on September 3, Seko will hold negotiations with Russian Minister for Economic Development Alexei Ulyukaev to discuss the development of small and medium-sized business in Russia. "The ministers will create a platform for exchanges between small and medium-sized businesses of the two countries," he said, adding that on Saturday they will meet to discuss these issues.

On September 1, one day ahead of his visit to Vladivostok, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a new ministerial post "for economic relations with Russia" and appointed Seko to this post. Seko takes an active part in government activity towards the development of cooperation with Russia.

At one of his first news conferences as minister of economy, in August, he said work on an eight-point cooperation plan will be among the priority directions. The plan was offered by the Japanese side at a summit meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi in May.