Japan, Russia reaffirm cooperation on energy, climate change, trade

TOKYO, Oct. 21 Kyodo -
Japan and Russia on Tuesday reaffirmed their close cooperation in various
fields including energy and the environment, as well as trade and investment,
at a ministerial meeting in Tokyo held to prepare for a visit by Russian Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin, a Japanese official said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and visiting Russian Minister of
Industry and Trade Viktor Khristenko also discussed over dinner after the talks
the current global financial situation and exchanged views ahead of an
anticipated Group of Eight summit on the crisis.
In the wake of the financial turmoil, the ministers agreed that the two nations
will play ''constructive'' roles in the global economy. Both sides will also
continue to proactively promote bilateral trade and investment, including
improving Russia's business environment, they said in a memorandum released
after the talks.
Trade between Japan and Russia topped $20 billion for the first time in 2007,
double that of 2005.
Nakasone and Khristenko reaffirmed that mutually beneficial cooperation in the
energy sector is important for strengthening energy security bilaterally and in
the Asia-Pacific region. They also noted that partnerships between the two
sides' private sectors on energy resource development should be respected.
The ministers also agreed to step up cooperation in promoting energy saving
technologies and improving the energy efficiencies of companies in the sector,
according to the memorandum.
On the environment, the two sides reaffirmed a shared view on the need to agree
on a long-term target under the U.N. framework to reduce global greenhouse gas
emissions by at least half by 2050 and agreed to continue working together in
negotiations for a post-2012 international emissions cut framework.
Tuesday's meeting was the eighth round of bilateral trade and economic
ministerial talks between the two nations. The previous round was held in April
2005, when Tokyo and Moscow mostly settled pending bilateral trade issues to
pave the way for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization.
Khristenko's visit comes ahead of a trip to Japan next month by Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov and a visit by Putin later on to promote more frequent
political dialogue.
A Japanese Foreign Ministry official briefing reporters said Nakasone and
Khristenko did not decide on specific dates for Putin's visit at Tuesday's
talks.
He also acknowledged the possibility that Putin's visit will not be realized by
the end of the year as initially planned, but insisted that if it is indeed
postponed it would only be a slight delay due to scheduling.
==Kyodo