Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed Wednesday his strong intention to hold talks with the new Russian president as soon as possible after Russian elections on March 26, even implying that he may visit Russia to get them under way.
"I hope the new Russian president will visit Japan (for talks)," Obuchi said.
Obuchi went to Moscow in November 1998 for talks with then President Boris Yeltsin and is still hoping for a return visit from a Russian president.