Speaking at a Russian-Japanese strategic partnership conference, Alexander Losyukov said Lavrov would hold talks with Japanese officials "on bilateral relations and several international issues that concern both Russia and Japan."
Discussions will address an ongoing territorial dispute between the two countries over the southernmost Kuril Islands, which the Soviet Union annexed after the Second World War, and which are now part of Russia's Sakhalin Region.
"As the parties have diametrically opposed positions on the issue there can be no swift and simple solutions," he said. However, the diplomat said Russia was seeking a solution to the dispute.
During his visit, Lavrov will meet for the first time with his Japanese counterpart, Masahiko Komura. The 65-year-old former defense minister was appointed foreign minister on September 25 in a government reshuffle.
The deputy minister also said that in 2007 Russian-Japanese trade may reach $15 billion, a $2 billion year-on-year increase, boosted by greater Russian demand for Japanese cars, household appliances, and industrial machinery.
