Japanese foreign minister seen visiting Moscow in mid-December

November 13, 2019

Tokyo--Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is seen visiting Moscow in mid-December to have talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.

Motegi hopes to build trust with Lavrov in order to achieve progress in faltering negotiations to conclude a bilateral peace treaty by resolving a dispute over Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Japan, according to the sources.

Motegi will visit Russia for the first time since taking up his post in September. He received Lavrov's invitation during their meeting in New York later that month.

The two countries decided to create a bureau head-level working group at the recent vice minister-level talks in Moscow.

The group will have comprehensive discussions on legal matters regarding the planned joint economic activities on the islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan.

Japan hopes to advance the peace treaty negotiations by making the most of the joint economic activities.

Lavrov plans to visit Japan for a meeting of the Group of 20 foreign ministers in Nagoya, central Japan, on Nov. 22-23. Motegi and Lavrov expected to have a brief meeting there. Jiji Press