Boosting military ties with Japan crucial for Pacific Rim security - Russian General Staff

TOKYO, December 11. /TASS/. Enhancing military partnership between Russia and Japan plays an important role in ensuring security and stability in the Pacific Rim, Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said after a meeting in Tokyo with Chief of the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self-Defense Force Katsutoshi Kawano. Gerasimov noted that bilateral cooperation has been dynamically developing. "We are ready to boost ties between our defense ministries based on the agreements of leaders reached after a series of high-level meetings last year," he stressed. In March, the heads of foreign and defense ministries resumed dialogue in the 2+2 format, he said. At the meeting in Tokyo, the ministers exchanged views on the key issues of global and regional security and gave their assessments on the promising areas of cooperation. "We believe that enhancing partnership ties in defense field fully meets national interests of Russia and Japan and plays an important role in ensuring security and stability in the Pacific Rim," Gerasimov said. At the beginning of his visit, Gerasimov laid a wreath at a monument to the Japanese self-defense forces, who died while fulfilling their duties in time of peace. Read more