TOKYO (Sputnik) – The delegation of the upper house of the Russian parliament headed by Matvienko is currently on a visit to Japan.
"The negative dynamics of the Russian-Japanese trade and economic cooperation is alarming. The main reason is Japan’s joining a number of anti-Russian sanctions introduced by Western countries and unstable global economic situation. We see that decreasing economic ties does not satisfy our Japanese partners, Japanese business as well," Matvienko told journalists.
She added that the tendency might be overcome.
"I believe that Japanese companies, investors may significantly contribute to the implementation of Russian plans to develop Siberia and the Far East. We are interested in joint projects in car manufacturing, pharmaceutics and medical industry, in the high-tech sphere, [developing] infrastructure with Japanese business," Matvienko emphasized.
Japan and Russia never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War Idue to Tokyo's claims to four Russian islands, the Southern Kurils: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.
The relations between the two states have recently been re-energized. In September, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo 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.
