Russia hoping for sustainable deliveries of Russian hydrogen, ammonia to Japan - Reshetnikov

MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Russia is hoping for partnership with Japan in matters relating to sustainable development and the 'green' agenda, and is planning steady deliveries of Russian hydrogen and ammonia to Japan, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said during a meeting of co-chairs of the Russian-Japanese intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation.

The talks were held online on Tuesday, with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi taking part on the Japanese side.

Russian-Japanese economic relations showed positive trends in 2021, Reshetnikov said.

"Especially important during the pandemic was the joint production of rapid tests for Covid-19. We also appreciate the plans to conduct preclinical tests of the Russian Sputnik vaccine in Japan. We are counting on the Japanese government's assistance in this endeavor," the minister said.

"Another important new topic of bilateral cooperation is sustainable development and the so-called 'green' agenda. We are discussing measures to combat climate change, we are planning sustainable production chains and supplies of Russian hydrogen and ammonia to Japan," he said.

The pandemic demonstrated the particular importance of developing digitalization of the economy, Reshetnikov said. "We have several new platforms for cross-border electronic trade of goods," he said.

"At the same time, we have a lot of work to do to reach pre-pandemic volumes of mutual trade and further expand trade and investment cooperation," the Russian minister said.

For his part, the Japanese foreign minister said that he "would like to have a useful exchange of views so that our cooperation in the economic sphere can help develop Japan-Russia relations as a whole in a wide range of areas, including the issue of a peace treaty."