Japan firms seek closer Russia ties

TOKYO, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Japanese trading and engineering companies will work together with Russia's Gazprom to develop new technologies, a Japanese daily said Friday.

The companies will start negotiating contracts for natural gas processing and other issues in March, and have a deal signed by the end of the year, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Details will also be discussed between Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov when the latter visits Tokyo next week, the daily said. In addition, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Tokyo Electric, and other Japanese energy companies will be meeting with Russian bureaucrats and entrepreneurs to discuss how they may be able to work together in the future, Yomiuri added.