On May 26, 2018, within the framework of the Russian-Japanese summit meeting in the Kremlin, there was a TV conference between the ISS crewmembers Anton Nikolayevich Shkaplerov and Norishige Kanai, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. Comm session takes place in JEM of USOS using US communication assets.

Anton Shkaplerov: We are extremely pleased that 2018 is the year of Russia in Japan and the year of Japan in Russia. Cultural exchange to great extent facilitates understanding between our nations, and it is a great honor for me to address you from the International Space Station, where we work side by side, for instance, with our Japanese colleagues. ISS is an international space platform — where representatives of many countries work together. Our shared experimental and research base, located 400 km above the Earth’s surface, exists because of the coordinated cooperation of Russia, Japan, the USA, Canada and European countries. This year is special — the ISS celebrates its 20th anniversary,the 20th anniversary of the ISS falls on the cross year of our countries. We are confident in the deepening of friendship and mutual understanding between our countries ¨C also because of the numerous events of the year of Russia in Japan and the year of Japan in Russia.

Source: RT