Russian, Japanese FMs hold phone call on economic cooperation
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E-mail Xinhua, August 12, 2021
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi discussed the expansion of cooperation in the trade and economic field in a phone conversation on Wednesday.
Lavrov and Motegi paid particular attention to the implementation of joint projects in the field of hydrogen energy in the Russian Far East as well as plans for joint economic activities on the four disputed islands, called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan.
The ministers also exchanged views on negotiations for a post-WWII peace treaty between the two countries, which is obstructed by their rival claims to the four islands.
Last month, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited one of the islands, Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japanese.
He said during the trip that Russian authorities were considering to set up a free trade zone on the islands, which are now under Russia's control, to create opportunities for imports.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Galuzin and issued a strong protest. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador Toyohisa Kozuki to lodge a strong protest.
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