TOKYO (Sputnik) — On Monday, Matvienko arrived in Japan for a four-day visit. The official is expected to hold a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"I understand that an intensive dialogue in the Japan-Russia relations is being held by our governments, including by our leaders, Prime Minister Abe and President [Vladimir] Putin. And your visit is organized on this background. I am sure that this visit will boost further development of the bilateral relations," Date told reporters on Tuesday.
Date noted that Japan and Russia had had several unresolved issues since World War II.
"Our governments are primarily engaged in these issues. At the same time, I believe that the lawmakers are able to contribute and to create conditions that would facilitate the solution of these issues," Date added.
The relations between the two states have recently been re-energized. In September, Abe took part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, during which he held three-hour talks with the Russian president. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the announcement of Putin's visit to Japan on December 15, which had been postponed from 2014.
