Japan, Russia to Promote Talks on Far East Development

Tokyo, Sept. 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese industry minister Hiroshige Seko and Alexander Galushka, Russian minister in charge of Far East development, on Wednesday agreed that the two countries will accelerate talks on infrastructure development and industry promotion in the region. At the opening of their meeting in Tokyo, Seko said the two countries have "good opportunities to develop their relations further" toward a visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. On Thursday, Seko was appointed to the additional post of minister in charge of economic cooperation with Russia. At his meeting with Seko, Galushka expressed willingness to reinforce economic and business cooperation between the two countries. Japan is considering support for transportation infrastructure development in the Russian Far East as part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's eight-point plan for boosting economic cooperation with Russia. Russia has been calling for increased Japanese investment in a special economic zone in the region. Speaking at a press conference, Galushka said Japan and Russia have seen progress in dialogue because the two countries have separated economic cooperation from their territorial dispute. This separation is the only approach for the two countries to take for promoting bilateral relations, Galushka said. The dispute involves four northwestern Pacific islands controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan, which were seized by Soviet troops in the closing days of World War II. END