MOSCOW, November 23. /TASS/. Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov will pay a working visit to Japan on December 11 through 13, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry pointed to the invigoration of the Russian-Japanese political dialogue. "Consultations between the top official of the two countries’ Security Council have become regular," the ministry said. "Consultations between the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers in the 2+2 format have been resumed. A round of strategic dialogue has taken place between first deputy foreign ministers. Strategic security consultations have been established at the level of deputy foreign ministers."

"Contact between the military have become more active. Plans for the end of the year include visits to Tokyo by Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov (December 11-13), and Land Troops Commander Oleg Salyukov (November 27-30)," the ministry said.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin told Rossiya-24 television channel about the forthcoming visits by Salyukov and Gerasimov. He did not specify however the exact dates of these visits.