DHAKA: Japan and Russia held their first high-level defence and diplomatic talks on Saturday and agreed to step up cooperation between their militaries amid regional security concerns such as North Korea and China.

Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida and defence minister Itsunori Onodera, and their Russian counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu also agreed to hold joint military and anti-piracy exercises and establish a defence consultation framework.

Lavrov told a news conference after Saturday’s talks that upgrading defence ties between the two countries could serve their national interests in resolving terrorism and North Korea’s nuclear threats, as well as other regional disputes.

He also welcomed the talks as a landmark development for Russia and Japan.

‘I believe this event today indicates a new stage in the relationship between Russia and Japan,’ he said at the outset of the meeting, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1734 HRS, NOV 02, 2013
RoR/SRS