• 

 
On September 10, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press conference at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport).
 
With regard to his attendance at the Eastern Economic Forum and other matters, the Prime Minister said,
 
“President Putin and I expressed our sincere determination to conclude a peace treaty between Japan and Russia by ourselves, at our summit meeting in Nagato two years ago. Since then, Japan-Russia relations and the peace treaty issue have shown steady progress. While this will be my 22nd meeting with President Putin, joint economic activities on the four islands of the Northern Territories have reached a new level, and special grave visits by airplane have been conducted for two consecutive years. With respect to the eight-point cooperation plan, we are seeing progress. We will conclude a peace treaty while advancing Japan-Russia relations in every field. We will resolve the territorial issue and conclude a peace treaty. I intend to move steadily forward in that direction.
 
I also intend to further advance Japan-China relations, which are now entering a new phase, by holding talks with President Xi Jinping this year, which marks the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People’s Republic of China. Some time ago, Premier Li Keqiang visited Japan, and, this time, I will hold talks with President Xi Jinping in Vladivostok. I hope to steadily advance Japan-China relations further by subsequently visiting China sometime this year.
 
At the Eastern Economic Forum, the leaders of Japan, Russia, China, the Republic of Korea, and Mongolia will come together in one place, along with 6,000 businesspeople. At the Forum, I will present the views of Japan, which lay the foundations for the peace and prosperity of this region.”