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Opportunities for developing bilateral relations, in particular trade and economic ties, were the main subject of discussion.

Mr Putin also congratulated Mr Abe on Tokyo’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. 

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, I am very pleased to have this chance to meet with you again. I think this is our fourth meeting so far this year.

Our foreign minister and defence minister will visit Japan at the start of November. We are launching the 2+2 format that we agreed on and have resumed consultations between our foreign ministries on a peace treaty. 

Our economic ties are developing. I note the increase in trade and investment between our countries. Japan is one of the top ten investors in Russia. We have joint projects of great interest and importance for our economies ahead of us.

The joint investment fund that we agreed on at one of our earlier meetings has begun its work and has already received bids for financing for more than $10 billion. 

I want to congratulate you on your success, on your personal victory. You have won the right to host the Olympic Games in Tokyo. I know how much attention you are giving this matter.

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe (retranslated): Mr President,

This is our fourth meeting since I visited your country in April this year. I am very pleased that the work is going exactly in accordance with the joint declaration that we adopted in April. This is strengthening the ties between our countries’ leaders. 

As you noted, your foreign minister, Mr Lavrov, and your defence minister, Mr Shoigu, will visit Japan in November to take part in the first round of talks in the 2+2 format. I want to give our foreign and defence ministers the instruction to make this round of talks fruitful so that it can give new impetus to expanding our bilateral relations.

We have only limited time today, but I would like to exchange views with you on a wide range of issues, including humanitarian exchanges between our countries, economic issues, talks on concluding a peace treaty, the situation in Syria and more. 

I also want to thank you for congratulating me on Tokyo being chosen as the city to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Together with your country we will strive to hold successful Olympics in Sochi and Tokyo.

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