(VOVworld)-The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Russia agreed Saturday to deepen bilateral cooperation on maritime security by expanding a joint search and rescue exercise by the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Russian Navy to counterterrorism and anti-piracy operations.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida  and Defense Minister Itsunori Onoderar Russian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu, (Photo:AP)

At the first “two-plus-two” ministerial meeting between the two nations, held in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and their Russian counterparts, Sergey Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu, also agreed to establish a bilateral conference on cybersecurity. The four ministers said they plan to hold the next meeting in Moscow as early as next year. Kishida said at a joint news conference following the morning talks that by deepening cooperation in many areas, including security, Japan and Russia will contribute to peace and stability in the region.