Russian envoy regrets decline in Far East-Japan trade.

KHABAROVSK, September 9 (Itar-Tass) - Russian presidential envoy in
the Far Eastern federal district Viktor Ishayev has expressed regret over aggravating trade and economic relations with Japan.

"At present, bilateral trade between Russia's Far East and Japan
accounts for 42 percent of the last year's level," he told a meeting with
Japanese ambassador to Russia Masaharu Kono on Wednesday.
The Russian diplomat described the structure of bilateral trade as
"too simplified." "Around 90 percent of the turnover are coal, oil, gas
and plus some bioresources. Timber marketing is on decline by 2.5 times,"
Ishayev said.
Meanwhile, he underlined that Russian companies begin to engage in
deep processing of resources and introduce high technologies. The Russian
side seeks to step up relations with Japan in machine-building.
Ishayev expressed confidence that the two countries' trade and
economic relations will improve soon.
Masaharu Kono welcomed as positive Russia's actions towards economic
integration into the Asia-Pacific Region.
"There are many projects of Russian-Japanese cooperation. We received
the list of investment projects at the 4th Far Eastern international
economic forum and are ready to engage in Russia's economic
diversification with the use of high technologies," he said.
Ishayev stressed that "Russian citizens express deep respect to Japan,
while Japan has friendly attitude towards Russia." "This is the main
result of our relations," he said.