Nakhodka and Otaru to increase two-way cargo traffic

Two seaports, Nakhodka in Russia and Otaru in Japan, intend to increase two-way cargo traffic, and to open a regular navigable line. These proposals have been made at the meeting between Deputy Mayor Oleg SERGANOV and Japanese business community representatives, Nakhodka City District Administration press service reports. Nakhodka and Otaru have been twin cities for over 40 years. Both cities are big seaports, and this circumstance should help them develop bilateral economic contacts. A delegation of Otaru municipality representatives and large shipping companies’ directors visited Nakhodka to study cooperation prospects. In the course of negotiations Nakhodka administration confirmed their interest in strengthening of trade and economic relations. Deputy Mayor Oleg SERGANOV reported that every year dozens of Nakhodka ships call at Otaru on Hokkaido Island and maintain long-standing trade relations between Russia and Japan. A regular navigable line between Nakhodka and Hokkaido could make these relations more active. Japanese delegation has also shown great interest in it.