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Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.

The President of Russia congratulated the Japanese Prime Minister on successfully hosting the G20 Summit.

Following the meeting, a number of documents were signed in the presence of Vladimir Putin and Shinzo Abe. Among them were memorandums of understanding on holding the Year of Russian-Japanese interregional and twin-city exchanges and on the issues of climate change and increasing energy efficiency. Also, interdepartmental documents were signed involving, in particular, cooperation in the digital economy, joint efforts in tourism, projects of a methanol-producing plant in Volgograd and development of the Volgograd chemical cluster, organisation of medical equipment manufacturing locally on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as Japanese companies’ participation in the Arctic LNG 2 project.

The two leaders also made statements for the press.

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Beginning of meeting with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe (retranslated): Mr President, welcome to Japan! I am glad that after our last encounter in Moscow we are meeting here in Osaka.

We are witnessing a positive dynamic in all areas of Russian-Japanese relations. We have just attended the closing ceremony for the first-ever Cross Years of Russia and Japan, and we have successfully deepened, expanded and stepped up exchanges between our nations.

I would also like to note that for the first time in the past nine years the Japanese-Russian council of governors brought together an unprecedented number of governors.

Now, in order to increase the flow of people between the two countries to at least 400,000 by 2023, we are trying to expand the grounds for exchanges, including the World Rugby Cup, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games, and other events.

Today I hope to have a discussion with you on signing a peace treaty with consideration of the results of the meetings between our foreign ministers and our negotiators. I also hope for an exchange of opinions on bilateral cooperation issues in various areas and in international issues.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you and your colleagues on the successful hosting and completion of the G20 summit. It was a big job, and it is largely you who deserves the credit for such good results.

It was not always easy to bring together positions that were often at the opposite ends of the spectrum on key issues of global development and the development of the world economy.

I hope the spirit of Osaka that we have felt here and the results of our work will stay with us for the rest of the year and maybe even for a few more years.

We have completed the wonderful cross-years, and have just marked it in a wonderful concert hall in Osaka.

I agree with you: we have made considerable advances in many areas in developing our relations.

I would like to thank you for inviting my colleagues and me on a specially organised visit to Japan, despite such a great amount of work due to the G20 summit.

I am glad to have an opportunity to discuss the range of issues in our relations including, the peace treaty.

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