Tokyo Businessmen Eager to Launch Abe's Trade Initiative With Moscow

Tokyo is interested in promoting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan to enhance the trade turnover between Japan and Russia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Tokyo is interested in bringing to life joint projects with Moscow as part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan as it will enhance the trade turnover growth, Minister of Trade and Economic Cooperation with Russia Hiroshige Seko said Saturday.

"Of course, for Japan as well it is of great significance. Japanese companies will be able to expand their presence on the Russian market. At the moment, there are very few Japanese companies in Russia. Because of that the trade turnover is very modest compared to what it could be," Seko said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 television.

He added that Japan and Russia were working on about 30 projects that were expected to be approved during the meeting of the two countries' leaders on December 15.

"I would like to point out that this cooperation should be to Russia's advantage," Seko said.

Relations between Tokyo and Moscow have recently been re-energized. In September, Abe took part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's Vladivostok, during which he held three-hour talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 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.