The President of Russia and the Prime Minister of Japan discussed the development of trade and economic relations and possible bilateral contacts, as well as Russian-Japanese cooperation within the framework of the UN Security Council.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Recently, we had a fairly substantive discussion in New York. Several events have occurred since then, related to intensifying our cooperation: your Foreign Minister visited Russia and we continue contacts on economic issues, in various sectors. Although unfortunately, trade has suffered seriously lately.
But Japanese companies, which have invested about $12 billion in the Russian economy in total – we see and feel this, – are interested in continuing joint work and we intend to support them in various ways.
I am happy for the opportunity to meet with you and discuss all these issues.
Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe (retranslated): First of all, I would like to express my deep condolences to all Russian citizens following the Russian plane crash in Egypt.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Shinzo Abe: Mr President, as you just rightly noted, Japanese-Russian relations have intensified recently. I welcome events such as the Japanese Foreign Minister’s visit to Russia, talks on signing a peace treaty at the level of deputy foreign ministers, the Eastern Economic Forum, and visit to Japan by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
Our dialogue is useful and I am sure that our bilateral relations are now developing steadily. I would like to continue promoting our bilateral relations as we move forward.
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