On Friday, May 11, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda had telephone talks with Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at the Russian side's initiative. The overview of the talks is as follows.

1. President Putin explained that he would not be able to attend the G8 summit due to the process of organizing the new government. Both leaders concurred on meeting in the near future on such occasions as the G20 summit scheduled to be held in June.
   
   
2. The leaders shared the understanding that closer cooperation between Japan and Russia would serve the national interests of both countries amidst the changes in the strategic environment of the Asia-Pacific region, and concurred on moving discussions forward on fundamental issues between the two countries and matters of urgency.