RF, Japan discussing possibility to hold regular economic meetings.

TOKYO, February 10 (Itar-Tass) - Japan and Russia are discussing the
possibility of regular round-table meetings on economic issues. As is
expected, an agreement on this issue will be signed during a visit of
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara to Russia, the Japanese news
agency Kyodo reported on Thursday with reference to sources in the
Japanese government.
According to the news agency, on the part of Japan, consultant of the
Foreign Ministry for economic issues Shinichi Nishimiya, and on the part
of Russia, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Andrei Slepnyov are
responsible for the preparation of the agreement. Participants in the
meeting plan to discuss a wide range of issues of cooperation of Russia
and Japan in the field of economy and trade.
During his visit to Moscow, the Japanese foreign minister will also
take part in a meeting of the bilateral trade and economic cooperation
commission which he heads jointly with Russian Minister of Trade and
Industry Viktor Khristenko.
On the eve of his trip to Russia, Maehara stressed that Tokyo
"considers it important to develop Japanese-Russian relations."
Possibilities of "cooperation with Russia are boundless," the minister
stressed. At the same time, he noted that the solution of the territory
problem, which has again become the reason for exchanging sharp remarks by
the Russian and Japanese Foreign Ministries in the last few days, meets
both countries' interests.
-0-ast