TOKYO: Russia is eager to promote its ties with Japan through the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin said Thursday.

In a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Galuzin said his country hopes for “good cooperation” with Japan over the Russian-developed COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V.

The ambassador said he has recently received a second shot of the vaccine. He stressed that the Russian vaccine is “one of the best in the world” and has been approved in about 65 countries so far.

Russia is ready to not just export the vaccine but also transfer the technology and allow its local production, Galuzin observed.

As an example of “good cooperation” between his country and Japan, Galuzin mentioned production of a COVID-19 test kit by a Russian-Japanese joint company.

On US-Russia relations, he described the United States’ current policy toward Russia as “not friendly at all” and “hostile” in some areas.

Referring to the Japan-US security alliance and the US military presence in Japan, he said the US policy does not contribute to building an atmosphere for the development of Russian-Japanese relations.

Meanwhile, Galuzin said he expects Russia and Japan to resume talks on an envisioned World War II peace treaty “as soon as the situation with regard to COVID-19 improves.”

Galuzin also said he hopes that this summer’s Tokyo Olympics will be held successfully although Russia is banned from sending athletes under its flag due to its doping scandal.

JIJI Press