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Japan-Russia Summit Meeting

On September 7, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the Russian Federation and held the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

As for the issue of concluding a peace treaty between Japan and Russia, the two leaders designated the following five candidate projects to be undertaken promptly for the joint economic activities on the Four Northern Islands. It is specific progress based on the agreement at the summit meeting in December last year. They shared the view that they will explore legal frameworks that will not harm the positions of either side, and will start from those which can be implemented. Additionally, they shared the view that they will continue to discuss possibilities of other projects.

(1) Project of propagation and aquaculture of marine products
(2) Greenhouse vegetable cultivation project
(3) Development of tours based on the islands’ features
(4) Introduction of wind-power generation
(5) Garbage volume reduction measures

The two leaders shared the view that an additional field survey will be carried out in early October in order to examine these five candidate projects. They also shared the view that they will examine each project in detail and a framework for movement of people, which is commonly necessary to all the projects in an accelerated manner. Director-General-level working group will be established in order to undertake these considerations.

Additionally, from the viewpoint of ensuring safety of marine traffic, the two leaders decided to examine a project for refurbishment of Kaigara Island Lighthouse, in a manner that does not harm the legal positions of either side.

The two leaders highly appreciated that humanitarian measures for former island residents, such as grave visits to the Seseki area on Kunashiri Island in August, access to which had been restricted, were realized. They also appreciated the establishment of temporary additional entry/exit points at the occasion of grave visits to the Habomai Islands at the end of August, because it greatly reduced the physical burden on former island residents.

The two leaders confirmed that special grave visits by airplane will take place later this September.

Prime Minister Abe encouraged President Putin to continue discussion on realizing freer entry to the islands by former island residents.

Prime Minister Abe also emphasized that North Korea’s decisions to fire a ballistic missile through the sky above Japan and to conduct a nuclear test are an unprecedented, grave and imminent threat not only to Japan but to the region as a whole. He also emphasized it important that the entire international community exert the utmost pressure on North Korea.

The two leaders shared recognition that the nuclear test by North Korea on September 3rd constitutes a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region. They also shared the view that Japan and Russia will continue to collaborate closely.

Moreover, the two leaders deepened discussions on bilateral cooperation in a broad range of areas such as political dialogue, defense exchange and security, economy, and cultural and ­people-to-people exchanges.