Russia says it discussed plans with Japan for joint economic activity on Kuril islands

[August 11, 2021]    MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and Japan's foreign ministers discussed plans for joint economic activity on the Russian-held southern Kuril islands that Japans lays claim to, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi takes part in a trilateral meeting with USA and South Korea on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London, Britain May 5, 2021. Ben Stansall/Pool via REUTERS

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in July said Moscow planned to set up a special economic zone with no customs duties and a reduced set of taxes on the island chain, during a visit to the islands that elicited a diplomatic protest from Tokyo.

(Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Jon Boyle)

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