Tokyo is hopeful that in the foreseeable future Japan and Russia will ease visa norms, Japanese Foreign Ministry’s deputy press secretary Masato Otaka told reporters on Saturday, according to TASS.

Earlier in the day, the foreign ministers of Russia and Japan, Sergei Lavrov and Fumio Kishida, spoke about easing the visa system at their talks in Moscow, Otaka said.

"It is going to increase the number of tourists and help lure young people to take part in youth exchanges," he said, expressing hope the issue could be settled in the near future.

Also, Otaka pointed out that the visa agreement was likely to have been approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan scheduled for December 14-15.

"However, I cannot disclose details," the diplomat said.

Source: MENA