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Prime Minister Meets with the Russian Prime Minister Wednesday, February 28, 2007 JAPANESE

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Prime Minister Abe held a meeting with Mr. Mikhail Fradkov, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Prime Minister Fradkov was accompanied on this visit to Japan by a total of about 200 government officials and business persons, including the Vice Chairman of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly, four Cabinet Ministers, three governors and ten corporate leaders. In line with the outcomes of the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting in Hanoi in last November, the two prime ministers agreed to promote cooperation in a wide range of areas, in particular through high-level exchanges, with the aim of building a partnership based on the two countries' common strategic interests. They also agreed on the recognition of the importance of solving the territorial issue in order for the two countries to make full use of the potential of Japan-Russia relations. Furthermore, they agreed to continue vigorous negotiations to seek solutions acceptable to both countries based on their past agreements and documents. During the meeting the two leaders also focused on a broad agenda covering cooperation in disaster prevention, energy development and the transportation and information communication technology sectors. They also discussed the acceleration of the negotiations for a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cooperation between customs authorities, fishery issues and North Korean issues. On this occasion of Prime Minister Fradkov's visit to Japan, the two countries achieved the signing or adoption of a total of 15 documents. After the meeting the two leaders held a signing ceremony and a joint press conference, after which they attended a dinner.