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Japan-Russian Federation Summit (Outline)

January 10, 2003

From 12:06 to 14:57 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Vladimir Putin held a Japan-Russian Federation Summit in Moscow. (From 12:06 to 13:47 a meeting was held among a small group, and from 13:51 to 14:57 a full Summit Meeting was held.) The following is an outline of the Summit.

1. Introductory Remarks

(1) President Putin explained that Japan-Russia relations are important for the entire international community, not only for the Asia-Pacific region and stated that he expected this visit by Prime Minister Koizumi to add great momentum to advancing Japan-Russia relations.

(2) In response to this, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he came to Russia with the intention of breathing new life into Japan-Russia relations, and that although there are some points of contention between Japan and Russia, there are many areas in which the two countries need to cooperate further. The Prime Minister stated that regarding the territorial issue, he is resolved to promptly settling this issue and concluding a peace treaty, and that the bilateral relations needed to be advanced in all sectors in order to fully develop the latent potential in Japan-Russia relations.

(3) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he attended a performance of The Nutcracker at the Bolshoi Ballet the previous evening and appreciated the opportunity to observe a part of the marvelous Russian culture, including the atmosphere in the theater, the warm reaction of the audience and the music of Tchaikovsky. President Putin expressed gratitude for Prime Minister Koizumi's warm words of praise.

2. The Importance of Advancing Japan-Russia Relations

(1) President Putin stated that further advancing relations between Japan and Russia is in the interests of the entire world, and that Japan and Russia needed each other, not in the short term, but from the strategic perspective.

(2) In response to this, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the transition from the Soviet Union to Russia was a change that affected the entire international community and not only Russia, that this change could certainly be characterized as a revolution, and that it was important to accurately understand the change and further develop Japan-Russia relations. After that Prime Minister Koizumi recounted the following heartwarming episode and sad history. President Putin listened quietly with eager attention.

  1. The tale of Daikokuya Kodayu, who was shipwrecked in Russia in 1783 and finally returned home to Japan with assistance from Russia.

  2. After the Japan-Russia War, the 6,000 Russian war prisoners were interred at Matsuyama where they received warm treatment and a cemetery was built for those who died at Matsuyama, as which a memorial is held in March of each year.

  3. The sad story of Internment in Siberia: Sixty years ago the Soviet Union broke the Japan-USSR Neutrality Pact and entered the War, resulting in the internment of 600,000 Japanese people, amongst which 60,000 died in Siberia.

(3) Furthermore, the Prime Minister made the following comments.

Although Japan also fought a fierce war with the United States of America, it has now built good and friendly relations. In the past, fierce wars were also fought between Russia and the France and Russia and Germany, but they currently enjoy good relations. Moreover, the volume of trade between Japan and People's Republic of China and between Japan and the United States are respectively more than twenty and forty times the volume of trade between Japan and the Russian Federation.

The Prime Minister stated that in order to maximize the latent potential in Japan-Russia relations there is a need to solve the territorial issue and fully normalize Japan-Russia relations.

3. Territorial Issue and the Japan-Russia Action Plan

(1) President Putin made the following statements.

The Japan-Russia Action Plan indicates that both sides are prepared to discuss all issues, including the most difficult issue. This Action Plan is valuable as a document that seeks the potential for reaching a solution for the peace treaty issue, and will serve as the foundation for future negotiations. It is necessary to remove any factors that pose barriers to improvement in the bilateral relations.

(2) In response to this, Prime Minister Koizumi made the following statements.

The Government of Japan firmly maintains its long-standing position of seeking to solve the issue of the attribution of the Four Islands and conclude a peace treaty. I intend to solve the territorial issue and conclude a peace treaty while advancing Japan-Russia relations across a broad spectrum.

The Action Plan that we have agreed to will serve as a "navigation map" for future Japan-Russia relations and it is important to concretely implement it and achieve results.

(3) In response to this, President Putin stated that the Action Plan is the first new type of document signed in the history of Japan-Russia relations, and stated his concurrence with the evaluation of this plan as a "navigation map" for Japan-Russia relations.

4. Measures Against Terrorism

(1) President Putin expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Koizumi for his offering of flowers at the theater which was the site of a terrorist incident, added that support from Japan and cooperative action were necessary in the fight against terrorism and stated that the cooperation by Japan through the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) to Russian border patrol police for drug prevention measures on the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan was extremely important and should be continued.

(2) In response to this, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he thought that the decision made by President Putin at the time of the theater occupation must have been taken under sad and trying circumstances, that he respected the leadership displayed by the President and that the cooperation to prevent the flow of drugs on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan was an important pillar of Japan-Russia cooperation.

(3) Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who also attended the Summit Meeting, expressed gratitude for Japan's cooperation in preventing the flow of drugs, welcomed the fact that progress was being made in bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism, stating that recently bilateral consultations on terrorism had been held and that an agreement had been reached to continue such consultations.

5. Cooperation in the Energy Area

(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stressed the importance of cooperation in this area, in response to which President Putin stated that the Pacific Pipeline Project was of great interest, but that there was a need to consider the issue of financing and the economic feasibility of the project. The President stated that he was also interested in the Sakhalin Projects.

(2) Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi made the following statements.

Considering the proximity of Japan and Russia and the latent potential of Russia, cooperation in this area will become an important pillar of Japan-Russia cooperation. The Sakhalin Projects are one of the largest projects being undertaken in Russia, Japanese companies has already invested US$1 billion and ultimately intends to invest US$8 billion. Japan is also carefully watching the Pacific Pipeline Project. The construction costs are estimated at more than US$5 billion and the pipeline will have a transport capacity of 1 million barrels per day. This will contribute greatly to the development of Siberia. It will also contribute to ensuring stability in the price of oil, and I would like to take this opportunity to confirm the promotion of Japan-Russia cooperation on this Project.

(3) In response to this, President Putin stated his gratitude for the Japan's expression of willingness to expand cooperation in this area.

6. Other Economic issues

(1) Overview

President Putin pointed out the low level in the development of economic relations between Japan and Russia and the fact that all Russian domestic legal issues had already been removed, adding that the trade and investment promotion organization would be useful in solving many issues. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he intended to make efforts for the early establishment of the trade and investment promotion organization and that in the near future Japan intended to make a proposal in this regard.

(2) Fisheries

President Putin made the following statements.

  1. It is good that an agreement could be reached on extending the framework agreement concerning operations of Japanese fishing vessels in the waters around the four northern islands. This agreement is beneficial for the bilateral relations, and while maintaining an economic balance, Russia is prepared to continue cooperation in the fisheries area in this region.

    President Putin stated that he is interested in advancing cooperation between Japan and Russia to prevent smuggling and illegal fishing and that conservation of marine biological resources is a matter of concern to both Japan and Russia.

  2. In response to this, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that cooperation between Japan and Russia in the areas of fisheries is an important pillar of cooperation traditionally and that Japan intended to continue cooperation in the areas of prevention of illegal fishing and smuggling as well.

(3) Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Areas

  1. President Putin stated that it was in the interests of both sides to support the proposal made by the Russian Research Center Kurchatov Institute to process plutonium and disassemble decommissioned nuclear submarines. Furthermore, President Putin stated that it was important to review the Japan-Russia structure for cooperation for denuclearization.

  2. Prime Minister Koizumi requested cooperation on efforts to invite the ITER to Rokkasho Village in Aomori Prefecture.

7. Cooperation in Public Security and Defense Areas

(1) President Putin stated that he was satisfied with progress in cooperation in defense areas and the exchange of high-level officials responsible for defense was being implemented. President Putin stated that these exchanges will create an atmosphere of trust between the two countries, and stated his expectation that the visit to Russia by Minister of State for Defense Shigeru Ishiba would bring about specific results.

(2) In response, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the Russian missile cruiser the Baryarg had also participated in an international fleet review in Japan in October 2002, and its size had been attention-grabbing, and that the promotion of cooperation in this area was important not only for bilateral cooperation, but also for regional stability.

8. Japanese Culture Festival in Russia 2003

(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that as the year of the "Japanese Culture Festival in Russia 2003" many cultural events were planned in 2003, and that he believed this would promote mutual understanding. In addition, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he was looking forward to visiting Russia on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg.

(2) In response, President Putin stated that he would make all efforts to make the "Japanese Culture Festival in Russia 2003" a success and that he welcomed a visit by Prime Minister Koizumi on the occasion of the 300th anniversary celebrations.

9. North Korea

(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that the North Korea declaration of its withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was most regrettable and it was important to demonstrate that both Japan and Russia share a joint recognition on the issue, and that the international community was also carefully monitoring the situation. President Putin indicated his agreement.

(2) Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his gratitude for the advice provided by President Putin on the occasion of his visit to North Korea, and that he believed that it was important for the abduction issue and security issues to be resolved to lead to a normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with Russia. Prime Minister Koizumi added that given the relationship between President Putin and Chairman Kim Jong-Il, and Russia's traditional relationship with North Korea, he hoped that these would be used in cooperation.

(3) In response, President Putin stated that Russia sought to cooperate to the greatest extent possible and that Chairman Kim Jong-Il was a person with whom one could talk.

10. Iraq

(1) President Putin stated that global concern on the issue of Iraq should be on the point of whether or not Iraq actually possesses weapons of mass destruction. In addition, President Putin stated that if such weapons were found they should be destroyed and it was up to the Security Council of the United Nations to make a judgment based on the analysis of Chief Inspector Hans Blix.

(2) In response, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that in the event that Iraq has further gravely contravened Security Council resolutions, it is important for Japan to support and maintain a combined response by the Security Council, including Russia. President Putin stated that this stance was very close to that of Russia.


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