In the first foreign-ministerial meeting since former Russian President Boris Yeltsin resigned on New Year's Eve, Japan and Russia confirmed Friday that they will continue to cooperate on a foreign policy course to advance peace treaty negotiations, a Foreign Ministry official said.
During talks Friday in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov pledged to observe a series of previous agreements reached by the two countries' leaders to advance such negotiations.
Kono and Ivanov also agreed to begin preparations for a long-delayed visit to Japan by a Russian president. They hope to realize a visit soon after a Russian presidential election is held March 26, the official said.