On September 8, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who visited Vladiostok for the APEC Summit Meeting, held a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Presidentof the Russian Federation for about 30 minutes from 2 p.m. (local time).

1. General issues on Japan-Russia relations
   The two leaders confirmed anew that it was important for Japan and Russia to promote cooperation in various fields amid the changing strategic environment in the Asia-Pacific region. Prime Minister Noda said that in order to promote such cooperation, understanding and support of the people were indispensable and to obtain concrete results of cooperation and consideration of the public sentiment were necessary.
   
   
2. Territorial Issue
   Prime Minister Noda proposed that both sides confirm the necessity for solving the territorial issue and that discussions be conducted at leaders', foreign ministerial and vice ministerial levels in a quiet and constructive environment in order to try to find a mutually acceptable solution. President Putin said Russia wanted to continue to discuss the issue in a quiet environment without arousing public opinion. The two leaders concurred on coordinating on a vice ministerial-level meeting.
   
   
3. Japan-Russia Cooperation
   
   (1) Security and defense: The two leaders concurred on enhancing mutual communication and cooperation in the field of security and defense. President Putin expressed his agreement, and said that Russia puts importance on exchanging in this field in terms of establishing trust between the two countries.
   
   (2) Economy, including energy: The two leaders welcomed the signing of a memorandum between Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and Russia's Gazprom for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Vladivostok, and the opening ceremony for an auto assembly plant set up by Mazda Motor Corporation and Sollers. Prime Minister Noda welcomed Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization and expressed his expectations for the further progress in the rule of law and the improvement of the investment environment in Russia. Referring to the development of the Russian Far East and Siberia, Prime Minister Noda said there were potentials between Japan and Russia and that such potentials would become reality if they further built mutual trust. President Putin said he was pleased with the development of trade relations between the two countries and that he welcomed Japanese companies' investments in Russia, adding that his country would like to protect such investments.
   
   (3) Cooperation on the sea: The two leaders welcomed the signing of the agreement concerning countermeasures against poaching and illegal export of marine products. Prime Minister Noda said Japan would like to promote concrete cooperation on the sea, including cooperation on the Arctic.
   
   
4. Human exchanges
   President Putin referred to a plan for Russian youth volunteering in the APEC meetings in Vladivostok to visit Japan and requested Japan's cooperation. Prime Minister Noda replied that Japan would like to cooperate to the extent possible.
   
   
5. Future political schedule
   The two leaders concurred on coordinating on Prime Minister's visit to Russia in December. President Putin said he would welcome the visit of Prime Minister Noda.
   
   
6. Signing ceremonies
   The two leaders were present at the signing of a bilateral agreement concerning countermeasures against poaching and illegal export of marine products, a memorandum between Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and Russia's Gazprom for an LNG project in Vladivostok, and a contract between Japan's Marubeni Corporation and Russia's Angara Paper corporation on the construction of a plant for lumber processing and paper pulp production.

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