MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Moscow in May 2018 within the framework of the Russian-Japanese Cross Year, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Friday.

"A project we call ‘cross years’ kicks off in May 2018. It will be a Year of Russia in Japan and a Year of Japan in Russia. Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Abe plans to visit Moscow to give start to this project," Shuvalov said after a meeting of the Russian-Japanese intergovernmental commission.

According to Shuvalov, this visit will be of major importance not only for the development of economic ties between the two countries but also for cultural relations between them and for their citizens.

Putin and Abe will discuss ways to improve cooperation between their countries, he added.

Russia and Japan agreed to accelerate joint work on abolishment of double taxation between two countries at the intergovernmental commission meeting, he went on. 

"We agreed to undertake efforts for the soonest possible ratification of the double taxation avoidance agreement from both sides. We will continue work on other projects of our memoranda and agreements that will promote mutual investments and trade," Shuvalov said.

The parties also discussed matters in the bilateral agenda, including implementation of the joint action plan, the official said.

"Trade turnover between our countries is growing. Investment cooperation is strengthening and investment projects appear quite actively. No major problems are present in our trade and investment cooperation. We agreed on the course of action in projects where deceleration is observed in order to expedite interaction of companies from both sides, particularly in respect of the airport in Khabarovsk," Shuvalov said.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the sphere of industrial projects, agriculture, access for foods to markets of both countries on reciprocity basis and cooperation in energy sphere.