OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2011. A regular round of Russian-Japanese inter-foreign ministry consultations on topical issues in bilateral relations and on international problems took place in Moscow on July 27. Taking part in the consultations were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexei Borodavkin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Koro Bessho.

The state of and prospects for the realization of the accords between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the comprehensive reinvigoration of Russian-Japanese relations were examined.

In this context the parties discussed the possibilities to expand bilateral cooperation in overcoming the consequences of the natural/technogenic disaster that occurred in Japan in March 2011, including ensuring the safety of the nuclear energy facilities, additional Russian energy carrier supplies to Japan, and the receiving in our country of Japanese children from disaster-stricken areas for holidays.

The parties reiterated their intention to intensify efforts to deepen mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with emphasis on developing the economic potential of Siberia and the Russian Far East. In this connection they underlined the importance of a thorough preparation of the relevant events planned by the parties for the second half of the year – the next meeting of the Consultative Council on the Modernization of the Russian Economy and the Round Table with the participation of the heads of the economic agencies and leading corporations of Russia and Japan.

The participants in the consultations exchanged their thoughts about the possibilities to launch joint economic activities in the South Kurils. It was reaffirmed that appropriate economic projects undertaken on the basis of Russian legislation would be welcomed by the Russian side.

Joint work will be continued with a view to building up cultural and humanitarian exchanges, as well as ties between regions of the two countries.

In discussing international problems special attention was devoted to the coordination of the positions of Moscow and Tokyo in questions of ensuring security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The Russian side accentuated the importance of improving the security and cooperation architecture in the AP region on the basis of its indivisibility and inclusiveness.

The parties also compared notes on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, further cooperation in the Afghan settlement, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Iranian nuclear problem.