Japanese delegation’s visit to build confidence between Tokyo, Moscow - official

TOKYO, June 27. /TASS/. The Japanese delegation’s visit to the South Kuril Islands will help build confidence between Tokyo and Moscow, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on Tuesday. "The fact that the Japanese and the Russians are painting the future of the four northern islands together points to the growing understanding and confidence between the two countries," Suga said. Earlier on Monday, a delegation comprising 70 Japanese government officials and businessmen left for the Russian Kunashir Island from Nemuro port on Japan’s Hokkaido Island. While in Russia, members of the Japanese delegation will assess possible cooperation projects concerning fishery, medicine, tourism and the construction sphere. On June 29, they will head to the Iturup Island, and on June 30, the delegation members plan to travel to the Shikotan Island. On July 1, they are going to return to Nemuro port. The delegation comprises members of the Japanese government office, officials from the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as from the Hokkaido Prefecture. Besides, businessmen from northern Japan will assist the government officials in assessing joint projects. "The visit is a huge step forward, because we can’t begin to work on specific projects without assessing the situation first," said Special Adviser to the Japanese Prime Minister Eiichi Hasegawa, who heads the delegation. "I hope that this assessment will help us speed up the implementation of the agreements reached by our leaders," he added. Russia and Japan have been holding consultations since the mid-20th century in order to clinch a peace treaty as a follow-up to World War II. The Kuril Islands issue remains the sticking point since after WWII the islands were handed over to the Soviet Union while Japan has laid claims to the four southern islands. On December 15-16, 2016, the Russian president visited Japan for the first in 11 years. The peace treaty issue and the South Kuril Islands issue topped the agenda, while bilateral cooperation was also discussed. Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe adopted a joint statement saying that consultations on joint economic activities on the South Kuril Islands could become an important step on the way to a peace treaty. Read more