Russian Ambassador Rejects Japan's Complaints over Chinese Delegation's Visit to Iturup

Nikolai Nozdrev noted that practical cooperation and interregional exchanges within the framework of the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with Beijing will continue to grow steadily.

Tokyo, October 15. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to Tokyo Nikolay Nozerov rejected Japan's complaints about the visit of a Chinese delegation to Itorup Island.

After a meeting between Nozerev and Kimitake Nakamura, Director General of the European Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the diplomats said in a statement: "The Russian ambassador to Japan categorically rejected Tokyo's complaints about the visit of representatives of the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province and the business community to Itorup Island."

The ambassador pointed out: practical cooperation and interregional exchanges within the framework of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with Beijing will continue to grow continuously, including within the framework of socio-economic development programs in the Russian Far East.

Earlier, the press service of the Sakhalin regional government reported that businessmen from China's Heilongjiang province have expressed interest in developing the hotel industry and cultivating marine biological resources in the Kuril Islands. In particular, Chinese entrepreneurs visited potential sites for the construction of tourism infrastructure in Itorup Island and discussed the prospect of cooperation in the field of agriculture. In response, the Japanese authorities protested the Russian ambassador, who was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.