MOSCOW (Kyodo) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year's message to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday mentioning the "significant successes" attained in 2013 in moving Russo-Japanese relations forward.

"The president of Russia wished Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe a Happy New Year, noting the significant successes achieved in 2013 in developing Russian-Japanese relations," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"Vladimir Putin stressed that Mr Abe's visit to Moscow in April gave a strong impetus to the two nations' cooperation in key areas, and expressed hope of further continuing communication and active joint work on current problems in the Asia-Pacific region," it said.

Putin and Abe met four times in 2013, including one in April, in a move Japanese officials say signal that they have been steadily building mutual trust toward concluding a peace treaty.

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This news was published on January 01, 2014.

Source: http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140101p2g00m0in010000c.html

Source of picture: http://www.crossed-flag-pins.com/Friendship-Pins/Russia/Flag-Pins-Russia-Japan.html