Duma Ratifies Russian-Japanese Agreement On Cultural Contacts

The State Duma (Lower House of the Russian Parliament) has ratified an agreement between the governments of Russia and Japan on cultural contacts. The agreement was signed in Tokyo on September 5, 2000. It is called upon to strengthen the achieved level of cooperation in this sphere and create prerequisites for its further positive development. The agreement envisages that both sides encourage cooperation in the sphere of translation and publication of works of literary, musical and scientific content, for assisting cooperation in the sphere of copyright in conformity with the legislation of their countries, for assisting cooperation in the sphere of the press, radio and television broadcasting, as well as between journalists and their organisations. The agreement also provides for developing cooperation in film industry, for international contacts between youth and sport organisations, as well as for the encouragement of tourism. Apart from that, the document envisages the formation of a Russian-Japanese commission for cultural contacts which will meet at least once in two years in the Russian Federation and Japan by turns.