Japan to continue negotiations with Russia

Foreign Minister Taro Aso sent a message Thursday to his Russian counterpart saying Japan will continue "serious" negotiations with Russia over the longstanding bilateral territorial dispute, Senior Vice Foreign Minister Katsuhito Asano said.

The message was conveyed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in commemoration of the 50th anniversary Thursday of the signing of the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration, Asano told a press conference.