(VOVworld) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral and global issues during a telephone conversation on Friday. They agreed to arrange an unofficial visit to Russia by Prime Minister Abe in spring after which President Putin will visit Japan. During talks in Turkey last November, President Putin invited Prime Minister Abe to visit a Russian city outside Moscow.

They agreed that the two governments will hold a deputy ministerial meeting in Tokyo next month to prepare for their summit. They also agreed to strengthen coordination at the UN Security Council in addressing North Korea’s nuclear test. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Japan is coordinating with the US, South Korea, China, and Russia in boosting a resolution on sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear test. Prime Minister Abe and President Putin also discussed the situation in the Middle East including the civil war in Syria and the conflict in Ukraine.