Moscow, Tokyo to hold economic consultations before June - Japan’s Foreign Ministry

TOKYO, May 12. /TASS/. Moscow and Tokyo plan to hold economic consultations at the level of deputy ministers at the end of May, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "There is an agreement to hold such consultations in the second half of May, but exact dates have not been set yet," a foreign ministry spokesman said. "Both sides have a positive attitude," he added. The talks will focus on developing bilateral cooperation in the energy sphere and improving investment climate in Russia. Japan will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Yasumasa Nagamine, Russia - by First Deputy Economic Development Minister Alexey Likhachev. Consultations in Tokyo are considered as part of preparations to upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan. Russia’s Foreign Ministry earlier said that at a meeting in Moscow in February, the diplomats of the two countries confirmed "the importance of joint work on preparing the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tokyo, including holding a session of the Russian-Japanese Inter-governmental Commission on Trade and Economic Issues and talks between foreign ministers in Moscow." However, the exact date of the visit was not announced, though the Kremlin confirmed that it received an invitation from Tokyo. Read more