Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 01 September 2016: Japan seeks closer economic ties with Russia

Reuters Tokyo reports that Japan might be seeking closer economic ties with Russia, as the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is preparing for a visit to Vladivostok. It is one of the many trips Abe has already paid to Russia. This times he is going to take part business conference. Putin has not yet been to Tokyo since Abe took his office, but an exchaneg visit is planned for December. The Japanese are interested in improving economic relations with Russia in light of the growing Chiense power and an interest in Russia's natural rescources.

It is, nevertheless, unlikely that closer economic cooperation will take place without disturbances, if at all. Since the end of WWII Japan and Russia are struggling in a territorial dispute over islands in Western Pacific. The two sides have never signed an official pace treaty. It is rather unthinkable that Moscow will cease its rights to the Kuriles in favor of Japan. However, according to commentators from Japan, an exchange of Russian natural reassures (most importantly oil and gas that Japan is now importing from the Middle East) for Japanese technology might create a solid ground for a potential economic deal.