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Coronavirus pandemic

Putin, Abe discuss anti-coronavirus fight, Kremlin says

The phone conversation was held at the Japanese side’s initiative

Russian President Vladimir Putin Alexei Druzhinin/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin

© Alexei Druzhinin/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed in the phone conversation on Thursday the issues of combating COVID-19, the Kremlin press service said.

"The situation around the coronavirus pandemic was discussed," the Kremlin said. Putin and Abe also informed each other on the measures taken to handle the coronavirus spread.

The two leaders also confirmed plans of expanding cooperation in the medical field, including joint development of medicines. "The sides confirmed plans of broadening cooperation of the agencies in the healthcare field, including joint development of medicines," the press service said.

The phone conversation was held at the Japanese side’s initiative.

Read also

Press review: World raises money for COVID-19 vaccine and EU fears Russian aid to Balkans

Besides, Putin and Abe discussed vital issues of Russian-Japanese cooperation, including in trade and economic area. They agreed on continuing contacts at various levels as soon as the epidemiological situation normalizes.

Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev told reporters that Japan’s JBIC bank jointly with the RDIF had agreed on investing more than 500 mln rubles ($6.8 mln) in producing Russian-Japanese EMG testing systems, which can swiftly and exactly detect the coronavirus infection. According to him, cooperation between Russia and Japan, which have unique technologies for combating dangerous diseases from testing to producing vaccines, is of strategic importance for defeating the coronavirus.

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