TOKYO, July 23. /TASS/. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has described his brief interaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings in Manila as the rekindling of an "old acquaintance." This marks the first personal exchange between the foreign ministers of Japan and Russia in six years, according to Muneo Suzuki, a lawmaker from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Motegi recounted at a press briefing after participating in ASEAN events in Manila, "The gala dinner was held the day before last, and I had an opportunity to briefly exchange greetings with Foreign Minister Lavrov. We are old-time acquaintances, and we discussed bilateral relations and regional issues." He emphasized the importance of managing Japan-Russia relations thoughtfully, noting, "Although the relations are complex, Russia is our neighbor. It’s crucial to maintain proper bilateral communication - including intergovernmental channels, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges." He added that Japan’s approach toward Russia will be guided by national interests.
Suzuki welcomed the development, stating, "The very fact of dialogue between foreign ministers is a positive step," and expressed hope that this could lead to improvements in bilateral ties.
