On Jan. 6, the Japan-Russia Parliamentarian Discussion Group, which is composed of interested LDP Upper House members, announced that Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, chair of the discussion group, and others will visit Russia on Jan. 10–15. The delegation will meet with Federation Council Chairman Valentina Matviyenko, who is said to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The delegation aims to bolster the strengthening of Japan’s ties with Russia.