Japan-Russian Federation Summit Meeting on the Occasion of the Sea Island Summit
(Summary of Results)

June 10, 2004

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation during his visit to Sea Island, Georgia in order to attend the G8 Sea Island Summit. The summit meeting was held for approximately 50 minutes from 18:00 local time on June 9 (7:00 on June 10, Japan time) at the Lanier House in Sea Island. The following is a summary of the meeting. This is the first Japan-Russian Federation Summit meeting since the reelection of President Putin in March. (Other attendees from the Russian side: the Russian Federation President Assistant in International Affairs Sergei Prikhodiko, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation and his Personal Representative Sherpa Andrei Illarionov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Kislyak; from the Japanese side: Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiken Sugiura, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hitoshi Tanaka, Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau Ichiro Komatsu and Director of the Russian Division Kuninori Matsuda.)

At the meeting, (1) bilateral relations including, in particular, the issue on the conclusion of a peace treaty was the main topic discussed, while (2) issues of North Korea, Kyoto Protocol and cooperation for denuclearization were also discussed.

1. Announcements

As a result of this meeting, the following two announcements were made.

(1) The 150th anniversary of the signing of the Shimoda Treaty (the Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation between Japan and Russia)

The two leaders agreed that both Japan and Russia would each host commemorative activities in 2005 as the year marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Shimoda Treaty which established diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia, a historically significant year for Japan-Russia relations.

(2) President Putin's visit to Japan

The Government of Japan welcomes President Putin expressing his wish to visit Japan at the beginning of 2005, a historically significant year marking the 150th anniversary of the signing of Shimodsa Treaty. The concrete timing of the visit will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.

2. Overview of Japan-Russia relations and the issue of a peace treaty

(1) Significance of complete normalization of the Japan-Russia relations

Prime Minister Koizumi pointed out that (1) wide-ranging cooperation in the international arena is beneficial to both Japan and Russia and (2) broad-ranging cooperation with Japan including in economic areas is indispensable for the economic development of Russia. Prime Minister Koizumi further emphasized the significance of constructing a strategic partnership underpinned by sincere relations of trust which would be engendered by complete normalization of Japan-Russia relations by concluding peace treaty through resolution of the issue of attribution of the Four Northern Islands. President Putin in response commented that Japan-Russia relations hold strategic significance to Russia and he valued such ties.

(2) The conclusion of a peace treaty

Prime Minister Koizumi again emphasized that concretely and substantially advancing negotiations on a peace treaty is the responsibility of the two leaders as they welcome the historically significant year of 2005 which marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia. To this, President Putin reconfirmed that he too considers it necessary to conclude a peace treaty by resolving the territorial issue. President Putin articulated that the important issue of the conclusion of a peace treaty is at all times included as one the major topics in the agenda between the two countries and that he had no intention of avoiding discussions on this topic.

For future negotiations, the two leaders shared the view that in order to advance, towards President Putin's visit to Japan, the negotiations for the conclusion of a peace treaty (1) it would be important for discussions at the summit level, foreign minister level and expert level to be closely interrelated and work with one another and (2) from this perspective, they agreed to give instructions to their expert to accelerate their works.

3. Individual issues

(1) Energy

Prime Minister Koizumi and President Putin concurred that cooperation in the field of energy such as the Pacific Pipeline Project and Sakhalin Projects is an area where the strategic and economic relations between Japan and Russia can expect significant development.

(2) Kyoto Protocol

Prime Minister Koizumi stressed the importance of environmental protection for economic revitalization while reflecting on Japan's own experiences and strongly requested the leadership of President Putin for Russia's early ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. In response, President Putin commented that (1) he agreed on the points raised by Prime Minister Koizumi on the importance of the Kyoto Protocol, and (2) although it is a difficult issue for Russia, he completely agreed with Prime Minister Koizumi on its importance, pointing out that the administration and the Duma were concurrently holding deliberations as to how Russia could ratify the Protocol.

(3) Cooperation for Denuclearization

President Putin appreciated for Japan's cooperation for denuclearization stating that (1) although Japan was the most cautions G8 member at the Kananaskis Summit over the discussions on the G8 Global Partnership, once Japan decided its participation, its Japan has advanced cooperation most actively among other countries, and (2) that he wished to continue cooperation in this area. In return, Prime Minister Koizumi noted the importance of the dismantlement of unclear submarine from the perspective of environmental protection.

4. North Korea

At the plenary meeting of the G8 Summit held on the same day, the issue of North Korea was discussed for hours. Prime Minister Koizumi extended his appreciation to President Putin for demonstrating both understanding and support for his recent visit to North Korea. To this, President Putin commented that (1) as he stated at the plenary meeting of the G8 Summit, the visit to North Korea by Prime Minister Koizumi was an "extremely important task" and appraised significant achievements, and (2) he wished to further cooperate with Japan through the Six-Party Talks.