Russia sees positive prospects for cooperation with Japan, despite current tensions in relations, Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, said on Thursday, Sputnik reported.
"We are at a fairly crucial stage of development of Russian-Japanese relations. Despite difficulties, we believe and understand the prospects of cooperation in the economic, political and humanitarian spheres. That's what we will talk about tomorrow," Naryshkin told reporters ahead of his visit to Tokyo.
On Thursday, Naryshkin is set to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while on Friday the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament plans to hold consultations with representatives of Japan's political and business elites.
According to Naryshkin, current relations between Russia and Japan are complicated by tensions that emerged after the 2014 crisis in Ukraine and Japan's decision to impose sanctions against Russia, along with Western states, in connection with Crimea's reunification with Russia and due to Moscow's alleged interference in the Ukrainian conflict, which Russia resolutely denies.