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Deputy Head of Japan’s Ruling Party Wants to ‘Push’ Dialogue With Moscow

© AFP 2023 / MANDEL NGANMasahiko Komura, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and member of Japan's House of Representatives
Masahiko Komura, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and member of Japan's House of Representatives - Sputnik International
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Vice-President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) Masahiko Komura will try to "find the odds for high-level dialogue" between Russia and Japan during his visit to Moscow this month, he said Saturday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – Komura is expected to arrive in Moscow on Sunday with a four-day visit, leading a delegation of lawyers. During his visit, Komura plans to meet Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia's lower house, State Duma, to discuss economic cooperation and the ongoing territorial dispute regarding the Kuril Islands.

"Prime Minister [of Japan Shinzo] Abe and President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin agree that it is necessary to continue a dialogue at the highest level… During the visit, I would like to hold informative exchange of views in order to encourage this dialogue,” Komura told RIA Novosti.

The Japanese official also said that he would possibly bring with him a message for Putin from Abe. Komura added that it remains undecided whether he would meet with Putin during his visit to Moscow.

Putin and Abe met on the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Paris in December. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the sides discussed Putin visiting Tokyo. Peskov added that Abe’s visit to Russia was possible prior to the Japan visit of the Russian leader.

Russia and Japan's relations have been strained over the Kuril Islands, which are controlled by Russia, but claimed by Japan.

The relations between two countries deteriorated after Tokyo announced support for certain Western economic sanctions against Russia imposed in 2014 over an alleged Moscow's interference in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the claims.

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