MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed their mutual interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation in a phone conversation on Friday, the Kremlin said in a statement.
"[The two leaders] discussed the development of Russia-Japan relations in detail. [They] stressed [their] mutual interest in enhancing cooperation in political, trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas. An agreement to maintain personal contact was reached," the statement reads.
According to the press service, the leaders discussed the situation concerning the Korean Peninsula, the global anti-terrorist fight and settlement of the Syrian crisis.
Earlier in the day, Abe said in an address to parliament that Japan intended to continue its dialogue with Russia so that the two countries could cooperate in solving global problems.