Russia-Japan intergovernmental commission to sit in Tokyo before year end

A regular session of the Russian-Japanese intergovernmental commission of trade-economic cooperation will gather in Tokyo before the end of this year, Vice-Premier Viktor Khristenko told a RIA Novosti news conference.

On June 28 through 30 a meeting will be held in Vladivostok between the commission co-chairmen Viktor Khristenko and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. They will discuss expansion of trade-economic cooperation, said Khristenko.

As regards political matters, the territorial issue among them, a working group on a peace treaty has been set up, he added.

"The group is already doing work and the positions are well known. We respect them and think it necessary to take into consideration the approaches existing in Russian and Japanese societies," he continued.

"Our goal in the economic field is to optimize the possible forms of cooperation between Russia and Japan, including in the Kuril Islands," Vice-Premier Viktor Khristenko said.