Secretary General of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party Toshihiro Nikai on Thursday embarked on a visit to Russia where he is due to take part in a Russian-Japanese forum, the Kyodo news agency reported.

During the visit, the Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party will meet with the leadership of the United Russia party and Speaker of the Federation Council (Russia’s upper house of parliament), Valentina Matviyenko.

Japan views Nikai’s trip as part of the groundwork for the upcoming visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Russia in late May. Abe will take part in the opening of the Cross Year of Culture and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Nikai is the second most important person in the Liberal Democratic Party and is a very influential Japanese politician. One of the key trajectories of his diplomatic activity is China. Since his appointment to this post, Nikai has met twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Aida AYSA,

“Khalg gazeti”