Russia, Japan To Continue Defense Cooperation, Visits Of General Staff Chiefs - Shoigu

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th May, 2019) Russian and Japan intend to continue their defense cooperation and the back-and-forth visits of the chiefs of their respective general staffs, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday after talks between the two countries' defense and foreign ministers in Tokyo.

"During a separate meeting with minister [Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi] Iwaya, we discussed in detail the current state of and development prospects for bilateral defense cooperation ... We proposed continuing the exchange of visits of the chiefs of the general staff of Russia and Japan," Shoigu said on video streamed by Ruptly on YouTube.

The sides also confirmed their commitment to maintaining the positive dynamics of bilateral defense relations by adhering to the agreements reached during the top-level meetings, Shoigu added.

Tokyo currently hosts the fourth round of 2+2 talks between the foreign and defense ministers of Russia and Japan. Earlier in the day, the sides agreed to arrange the first visit of a Russian Navy chief to Japan in 18 years this year, as well as joint search and rescue exercises in Vladivostok in mid-June.