Tokyo Expects to Discuss Peace Treaty, Politics, Economy With Putin in Japan

Tokyo expects to discuss the long-stalled peace treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Japan in December, Japanese Foreign Ministry press secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura told Sputnik on Friday.

RUSSKY ISLAND (Sputnik) – Addressing the leaders’ talks expected in December, the press secretary said Putin and Abe plan to discuss political and economic issues, including the peace treaty.

"They discussed bilateral issues and international issues, including the northern territories [Southern Kurils] issue. They had a broad and frank discussion," Kawamura said commenting on Putin’s talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Russian Far East earlier in the day.

Japan and Russia have never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War II due to a disagreement over four islands, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan the Northern Territories. The disputed islands, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, were claimed by Soviet forces at the end of the war.

Kawamura told Sputnik additionally that Putin and Abe agreed to meet on the sidelines of the November 19-20 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.

Japan plans to bolster security and counter-terrorism cooperation with Russia in the Central Asian region and Afghanistan, Kawamura said.

“We held counter-terrorism consultations in Moscow in June, particularly in the field of countering drug trafficking. [Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe said that he would like to promote cooperation with Russia in the fight against drug trafficking in Afghanistan and Central Asia,” Kawamura said.