Russian Foreign Minister meets Japanese Parliamentarian

At a meeting between Igor Ivanov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and Hiroshi Mitsuzuka, Chairman of the Association of deputies of the Japanese Parliament for Friendship with Russia, the sides noted "the importance of continuing quests for mutually acceptable solutions at peace treaty negotiations," reported the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that the sides noted the importance of the consistent implementation of accords reached at summit level. This concerns making the cooperation between the two countries more active both in settling topical international issues, and deepening trade and economic cooperation.

Igor Ivanov and Hiroshi Mitsuzuka also emphasized the importance of the further development of ties and contacts between the Federal Assembly of Russia and the Japanese Parliament.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Mitsuzuka declared that the association he is heading is ready to promote the complex development of Russian-Japanese relations. He also stressed that the Japanese government led by Junichiro Koizumi "intends to continue following the course towards advancing relations with Russia on the basis of the positive results achieved during the preceding period."