Russian FM Sergei Lavrov to visit Tokyo in autumn

The Japanese government considers an agreement on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Tokyo in autumn substantial progress. This agreement was reached at the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Lough Erne Golf Resort in Northern Ireland. “Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Japan, this is a positive stride forward,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. He also said the sides confirmed their agreement to hold consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers to develop a peace treaty. Their schedule will be finalized through diplomatic channels. Earlier at the meeting with Japanese journalists in Belfast Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Sergei Lavrov will visit Tokyo after the G20 summit, which Russia will host in September. The Kremlin press service made no official comments on the meeting’s results.