TOKYO, September 24. /TASS/. Heads of Security Councils of Russia and Japan have expressed concern over Washington’s plans to station nuclear weapons abroad, including in Europe, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev’s spokesperson Yevgeny Anoshin told TASS on Thursday.

"The fourth round of bilateral Russian-Japanese consultations on security issues took place in Tokyo. Nikolay Patrushev and Secretary of Japan’s National Security Council Shotaro Yachi discussed different aspects of regional and international security and exchanged opinions on key aspects of Russian-Japanese relations," Anoshin said.

"The officials, in particular, expressed concern over US’ plans to station nuclear weapons abroad, including in Europe," the spokesperson stressed. "The sides noted that consistent contact in the framework of security councils of the two countries is a key element in the issue of strengthening trust between Russia and Japan, and also plays an important role for ensuring security in the Asia-Pacific in general," he added.

Anoshin noted that among participants in the bilateral consultations from the Russian side were representatives of the country’s Security Council, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Emergencies Ministry.

Regular contacts between Russia’s Security Council and Japan’s National Security Council have been maintained since 2012.