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[Provisional Translation]

On September 6 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Vladivostok in the Russian Federation to attend the third Eastern Economic Forum and other events.

The Prime Minister first visited a small memorial monument for Japanese nationals who died during their detainment in the Soviet Union. Later, he held a meeting with members of Japanese companies and others, and held talks with H.E. Mr. Khaltmaa Battulga, President of Mongolia. Afterwards, the Prime Minister received a courtesy call from students participating in the Japan-Russia Student Forum.

In his address at the meeting with members of Japanese companies and others, the Prime Minister said,

“I am pleased to be able to attend the forum with members of Japanese companies, local governments, and universities who are engaged in businesses and exchanges with Russia. We have indeed great weather. Today the weather is absolutely gorgeous, a big difference from last year.

Vladivostok is a hub in the Asia-Pacific region, a source of world economic growth for Russia, with the city hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2012. It is expected that your active participation here will lead to the further development of this forum. I too am looking forward to attending this forum following on from last year.

One year has passed since I proposed to President Putin that we review the progress of the eight-point cooperation plan every year in Vladivostok. The eight-point cooperation plan is an initiative to unleash the potential inherent in the Japan-Russia relationship. It can be said that the Japan-Russia relationship has the most potential of any bilateral relationship. Thanks to all of your proactive efforts and hard work, these possibilities are being materialized one step at a time, moving from memorandums to contracts and from ideas on paper to something tangible. The inherent possibilities of our relationship are being materialized.

Public-private initiatives will continue to be essential for the development of the Japan-Russia relationship. In particular, this year is ‘Russia Year in Japan’ and ‘Japan Year in Russia.’ I expect that this will serve as an opportunity to deepen the Japan-Russia relationship further. The Government intends to firmly support your business exchanges with Russia. I ask for your continued cooperation in this regard. I hope that we can meet again one year from now here in Vladivostok to confirm the progress that has been made in this endeavor.”

In addition, in his address at the courtesy call from students participating in the Japan-Russia Student Forum, the Prime Minister said,

“I will hold my 19th meeting with President Putin tomorrow. President Putin is responsible for the national interests of Russia, while I am responsible for the national interests of Japan. For that reason, sometimes our assertions conflict with each other, and sometimes our views are different. However, by continuing to hold a series of dialogues, I believe that we have deepened our mutual understanding and formed a relationship of trust.

We share the view that it is vital that the people of our two countries understand each other with their sights set on the future, also from the viewpoint of concluding a peace treaty. It is precisely students like you, young people, on which the future of our two countries rests. I am pleased to see that you are having these kinds of exchanges with each other and are making joint proposals. Last year, I proposed the cooperation plan with eight points to President Putin. That plan includes doubling exchanges among students. You have just held discussions on a variety of themes. Even if you have different opinions from each other, I believe that those discussions will lead to the goal of realizing diversity. I expect that your discussions in this student forum will give rise to new achievements and pave the way for a new future. Now that you have gotten to know each other at this forum, I hope that you will treasure your friendships into the future.”