Japanese minister expresses interest in security, defense cooperation with Russia
MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - Tokyo wishes to develop security and defense cooperation with Russia, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said.
Gemba said that Japanese-Russian cooperation in all spheres, first and foremost, in security, would meet strategic interests of both countries against the backdrop of profound strategic transformations in the Asia Pacific region, says a report of the Japanese Embassy to Russia obtained by Interfax on Thursday.
The report said the minister made the statement at a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev on October 23.
Gemba described the meeting as an important step in the deepening of Japan-Russia security cooperation before the Russian visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
The sides welcomed Japan-Russia security cooperation of the recent years, including the defense dialogue and exchanges, joint search-and-rescue exercises of the Japanese and Russian navies and cooperation in the suppression of narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, the embassy said.
The sides said the cooperation should continue.
They also analyzed Japan-Russia energy cooperation in the energy security context.
