The Japanese government expects in mid-June this year to resume working contacts with the Russian side via video link at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the two countries. As Kyodo reported, citing numerous Japanese government sources, this issue is currently being agreed.
It is noted that the Japanese side would like to raise the issue of the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Japan, which is considered by Tokyo as a prerequisite for a meeting of the leaders of the two countries. During the consultation, the Japanese side would also like to discuss the implementation of tourism and other projects as part of joint economic activities in the southern part of the Kuril Islands.