Japan and Russia agree to deepen trust, continue discussing territorial dispute Published November 02, 2013Associated Press dbd29fdfef95ea24410f6a706700b959.jpg Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second from left, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, pose with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, second from right, and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera for photographers at the start of their foreign and defense ministers meeting called two-plus-two at Iikura guest house in Tokyo Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Issei Kato, Pool) (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) 79fb38bbef95ea24410f6a706700187c.jpg Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, second from left, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, pose with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, second from right, and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera for photographers at the start of their foreign and defense ministers meeting called two-plus-two at Iikura guest house in Tokyo Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Issei Kato, Pool) (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) Next SlidePrevious Slide TOKYO – Japan and Russia held their first high-level defense and diplomatic talks Saturday and agreed to step up cooperation between their militaries amid regional security concerns such as North Korea and China. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, and their Russian counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu also agreed to hold joint military and anti-piracy exercises and establish a defense consultation framework. Their countries defense ties are geared up toward peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and would not affect existing alliances, including one between Japan and the U.S., they said. Lavrov told a news conference after Saturdays talks that upgrading defense ties between the two countries could serve their national interests in resolving terrorism and North Koreas nuclear threats, as well as other regional disputes. He welcomed the talks as a landmark development for Russia and Japan, and said that this new cooperation would not interfere with the Japan-U.S. alliance. Kishida also said that Japans alliance with Washington remains the cornerstone of Tokyos foreign and security policy. Earlier Friday, Japan and Russia agreed to continue discussing a territorial dispute that has kept the nations from signing a peace treaty. We need to act constructively. We should not be emotional, and avoid provocative remarks, Lavrov said in Fridays news conference. The diplomats also agreed to hold vice-ministerial talks in late January or February, ahead of Kishidas planned visit to Russia in the spring. Lavrov did not mention an attack on Russian missiles in Latakia in Syria. Kishida said he and Lavrov planned to discuss Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and other international issues at Fridays working dinner, which was closed to the media. Japan is seeking to broaden its defense ties, in addition to its key security alliance with the United States, in response to Chinas growing military presence and threats from North Korea. Russia has been expanding its trade ties in Asia and President Vladimir Putin has actively sought closer relations with Japan, partly as a counter to Chinas rising military power. Lavrov, however, said that Russia would not commit to friendly relations with one party as a way to antagonize another. He was responding to a question about the significance of the new Japan-Russia defense cooperation to counter Chinas growing marine presence. Its unclear how much progress is being made toward a resolution of a dispute over four islands that were seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II. The dispute has kept the two nations from signing a peace treaty formally ending their World War II hostilities. Japan and Russia have also stepped up cooperation in developing energy resources, especially liquefied natural gas. Kishida said trade between the two countries totaled a record $33 billion last year, and that further growth is expected this year. ___ Associated Press writer Emily Wang contributed to this report.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 16:03:39 +0000
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