Japan hopes for frequent Japanese-Russian summits for better ties+

TOKYO, April 13 Kyodo -
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano expressed hope Tuesday for
frequent summits between the Japanese and Russian leaders to enhance bilateral
ties during a meeting with a visiting senior Russian official.
During talks with Sergei Naryshkin, chief of staff of the Russian Presidential
Executive Office, held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Hirano also
conveyed condolences to the families of those killed in the March 29 suicide
bomb attacks on the Moscow subway system.
''Terrorism cannot be condoned in any form,'' Japan's top government spokesman
said at the outset of the meeting before reporters were led outside.
Naryshkin thanked Tokyo for its gesture.
''To build a new era of Japanese-Russian relations, we will cooperate with each
other not only on (resolving) the pressing territorial issue but also on
economic issues in international forums...while the leaders of the two
countries frequently meet and hold discussions,'' Hirano said. ''I hope the
overall Japanese-Russian relations will move forward in doing so.''
Naryshkin, who is on a three-day visit to Japan starting Tuesday, also met with
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada earlier in the day.
==Kyodo