Japan Foreign Minister Kono to Visit Russia, 3 Asian Nations

July 27, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Friday that he will visit Russia, Singapore, Myanmar and Bangladesh over the 10 days from Monday.

In Moscow, Kono will attend a "two-plus-two" meeting of the Japanese and Russian foreign and defense ministers on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

In Singapore, he will attend Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings.

Kono is expected to seek contacts with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, who is expected to attend part of the ASEAN-related meetings.

In Myanmar and Bangladesh, Kono will hold talks with government officials.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera announced a plan to visit Russia for four days from Tuesday.

He is slated to attend the two-plus-two meeting after talks with the Russian defense minister on Tuesday. The next day, he will meet with Russian military and other officials in St. Petersburg. Jiji Press