On Jan. 17, Alexander Krutikov, deputy minister for the development of the Russian Far East, indicated that Russia would continue to develop infrastructure on the Northern Territories as Russian territory, saying that Russia will move forward with the development of the Chishima Islands, including the Northern Territories, “as decided by the Russian government in 2015.”   He said this in….Read more

With the aim of concluding an economic partnership agreement, Japan and European lead negotiators resumed discussions on Jan. 17 in Brussels. The participants will concentrate on negotiating outstanding issues that include tariffs on agricultural products and automobiles. The Japanese government hopes to reach a broad agreement on essential components of an agreement by February.   Meanwhile, an LDP group,  “Parlitmentarians’ League for Measures to Deal….Read more

Nikkei and Sankei wrote that the MSDF announced on Tuesday that it will conduct joint exercises with the Russian Navy for search and rescue operations and ship inspections on Jan. 20-22 in waters off Maizuru in Kyoto Prefecture and Wakasa in Fukui Prefecture. This will be the first time in two years and three months for the two nations to….Read more

Commenting on the Japan-Russia summit held in December at a New Year press conference held on Jan. 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out that “with the U.S. (the Obama administration) applying pressure on Japan, it was of great significance that the Japanese and Russia leaders confirmed in writing their commitment to raising the bilateral ties to a new level.”….Read more

In May, Japan proposed to Russia an eight-point economic cooperation program to accelerate negotiations on the Northern Territories. In December, it worked out an aid package worth about 300 billion yen, led by the private sector. On the surface, Russia is giving high marks to these initiatives, but discontent is simmering on the Russian side, with one Russian government official noting….Read more

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Jan. 13 that State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi will travel to Greece, Russia, and Denmark from Jan. 14. Kishi will visit Russia for the three-day period of Jan. 16-18 and meet with government officials and Federal Assembly members. He is expected to discuss the joint economic activities that Japan and Russia agreed on….Read more

Sunday’s Nikkei published a prominent inside-page article on the complete absence of progress on the Northern Territories negotiations during President Putin’s visit to Japan last month, explaining that the Russian leader is strongly opposed to the reversion out of concern that Tokyo would be forced by Washington to build bases on the islands for the U.S. military. Putin is afraid….Read more

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko held a press briefing in Moscow on Jan. 12 and revealed that Japan and Russia agreed to initiate talks on cooperation in the fields of pediatric medicine and health initiatives as part of the Japan-Russia economic cooperation promoted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. By the end of March, actual work schedules will….Read more

Yomiuri reported from Moscow on visiting Economic Minister Seko’s meeting with a Russian deputy prime minister, during which the Russian official projected that Prime Minister Abe will probably visit Russia in April and September this year for talks with President Putin.

A Russian government-affiliated telecommunications company has announced it has selected China’s Huawei Technologies Co. to undertake survey and design work for laying a submarine fiber optic cable linking communities on Sakhalin and islands controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan.   The Japanese government has been wary of companies from China, South Korea and other third countries doing business on….Read more