Japan considers development of relations with Russia important.

TOKYO, January 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Japan believes that it is necessary
to develop relations with Russia in various fields, including the
negotiations on the territorial problem, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister
Mitoji Yabunaka told his Russian counterpart Andrei Denisov at the opening
of the next round of Russian-Japanese strategic dialogue here on Monday.

"It is important so that our relations would develop further,
particularly in the search for a solution to the territorial problem. I
would like to note that at the same time it is necessary to broaden
cooperation in many fields, including the development of Siberia and the
Far East," the Japanese deputy foreign minister said.
Tokyo "hails the fact that Russia is turning into a Japanese partner
in the Asia-Pacific region," Yabunaka added.
For his part, the Russian deputy foreign minister recalled that at the
meeting in December 2009 the foreign ministers of the countries reach the
agreement to hold the next round of Russian-Japanese strategic dialogue.
"The foreign ministers praised highly our strategic dialogue. It is
considered an important channel for building up a broader dialogue,"
Denisov said.
"The leaders of our countries already met in New York in September
2009 and in Singapore in November and agreed to enhance partnership
relations between the two countries. We will act in line with the tasks
set by our leaders, our governments," the Russian diplomat added.
High on the agenda of the 7th meeting within the framework of
strategic dialogue will be the development of cooperation in the
Asia-Pacific region, as well as the nuclear problems in North Korea and
Iran, Japanese diplomatic sources said. The sides are also expected to
discuss the schedule of future contacts on the high level and the
prospects for some progress in the negotiations on a peace treaty.
At the end of the previous week Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya
Okada stated about the intention to intensify the dialogue with his
Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on bilateral relations, including the
territorial problem. "I would like Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit
Japan in the first half of this year. And I would like to visit Russia in
the second half of the year," Okada said.

.Chavez urges to speed up Russia's construction of power plants.

CARACAS, January 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
instructed to accelerate the project, under which Russian companies are
building thermal electric power plants operating on petroleum coke. In the
Sunday televised show "Allo, Presidente?" Chavez instructed Minister of
Energy and Petroleum Rafael Ramirez, who will visit Moscow soon, to
discuss this issue with the Russian authorities.
"We should not lose a single day in implementing this project," the
president told Ramirez. Russia has modern technologies in this sphere,
Chavez noted.
Chavez recalled that Venezuela has the world largest extractable
reserves of heavy and super heavy oil in the Orinoco River basin.
According to the latest reports of the U.S. Geological Survey, the
foresaid reserves amount to 513 million barrels of crude. The president
emphasized that petroleum coke processed from heavy oil is needed in the
electric power generation. The electric power stations operating on
petroleum coke apply ecology-friendly technologies, he pointed out.
Currently Venezuela confronted the electric power crisis over the
drought caused by the El Nino phenomenon and a falling water level in the
water reservoirs of hydropower plants. The major hydropower plant Guri
generates 70% of all electric power supplies in the country. Therefore,
the country's authorities had to introduce a tough energy-saving regime
and cut the electric power supplies in the regions.
-0-baz