Japan preparing for summit with Russia’s Putin

Japan is preparing for the September summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Mori said on Wednesday.

“Now we are preparing for the summit in September,’’ Mori said ahead of talks on strategic stability with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.

According to the diplomat, the current round of negotiations will be devoted to regional security issues against the backdrop of intensive negotiations on North Korea’s denuclearisation.

Ryabkov, for his part, said that Russia and Japan should develop bilateral cooperation, adding that Moscow was committed to fostering cooperation across a wide range of issues.

“The dynamics of the current situation reminds us of the need to focus on it, analyse and find solutions to the most difficult issues, such as the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,’’ Ryabkov said.

Putin and Abe are expected to meet in Vladivostok during the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), set for Sept. 11 to 13.