Putin praises Russia-Japan political contacts, expresses willingness to discuss peace treaty

Putin praises Russia-Japan political contacts

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-26 21:09:17

MOSCOW, April 26 (Xinhua) --

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at talks near Moscow on Saturday that he is satisfied with the level of political contacts between Russia and Japan.

"We are maintaining permanent contacts on the political level. Ministers and prime ministers hold meetings. The president takes part in activities, aimed at promoting the development of our relations," Putin said.

Meanwhile, the outgoing president believed that there are ways to resolve the existing problems between the two sides, despite some difficulties.

Fukuda, for his part, said Russian-Japanese relations are developing steadily and Putin's role in the development of the cooperation is rather great.

"I would like to establish with the Russian leaders personal relations, based on mutual trust, for the purpose of promoting a further development of relations," he added.

The Japanese prime minister arrived here on Friday for a two-day visit.

Putin: Russia willing to discuss peace treaty with Japan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-26 20:03:30

MOSCOW, April 26 (Xinhua) --

Russia is willing to continue negotiations with Japan on a peace treaty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday at the presidential residence near Moscow.

"I would like to point out that we managed to radically change the character of our relations over the past two to three years," Putin said at a meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Russia is willing to continue dialogue on a peace treaty and create conditions for making headway in that sphere, the Russian president said.

Russia and Japan have never signed a peace treaty formally ending World War II due to territorial disputes over four islands.

The four islands, known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by Soviet troops after the end of World War II and are currently under Russian control.

Editor: Feng Tao

Russia, Japan to continue dialogue amid territorial dispute

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-14 22:21:06

MOSCOW, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Japan will continue dialogue and develop bilateral relations while retaining their differences on the decades-old territorial dispute, top government officials of the two countries said here Monday.

"We have not heard any concrete idea as to how this issue should be resolved," Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told a press conference in Moscow after talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

Moscow and Tokyo have been striving to reach a peace treaty to officially end hostilities after World War II, which ended in 1945. The treaty, however, has been blocked by conflicting claims over four islands.

"We have agreed to continue a serious dialogue. The goal is to find a final mutually acceptable solution," Lavrov said.

He added that this was the task set by the leaders of the two countries.

Such talks were "intensive and painstaking work," which must also reflect the public mood, but "both parties are determined to move forward," Lavrov said.

A Russian-Japanese summit is slated for July when Russia's next president Dmitry Medvedev attends a G-8 summit in Japan, where he is expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Lavrov said.

The territorial dispute over the four islands off Hokkaido has been a long-standing stumbling block in the development of relations between Russia and Japan.

The islands are now known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. They were occupied by Soviet troops after the end of World War II and are currently under Russian control.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

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