Japan, Russia agree to boost security cooperation

Japan and Russia have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in security affairs, including joint military exercises against terrorism and piracy. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera of Japan met their Russian counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu in Tokyo on Saturday under the so-called 2-plus-2 framework, Japan's NHK World website reported. At a news conference after the talks, Kishida said Saturday's talks opened a new page for stepping up Japan-Russia cooperation in security and defense. He added the latest move would have a positive influence on negotiations toward signing a bilateral peace treaty. Lavrov said the two countries confirmed that closer bilateral relations would help resolve various issues, including those relating to the Korean Peninsula, territorial disputes, and terrorism. He said that would be in the interest of the two countries. In the talks, the two sides agreed to have joint exercises between Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Russian navy. They also agreed to hold working-level talks on ways to counter cyber attacks. The Russian foreign minister invited the Japanese side to visit Moscow next year and to have such talks regularly. Ahead of the 2-plus-2 meeting, the Japanese and Russian foreign ministers agreed that high-ranking officials will meet between late January and early February to discuss the territorial dispute involving 4 Russian-held islands. The Japanese government is hoping to build confidence with Russia with the intention of making progress in the territorial negotiations.