Japanese FM Hands Personal Letter From Putin to Abe

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe charged Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with further preparation of the upcoming Japan-Russia summit via close coordination with Moscow.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to NHK World, Kishida reported to Abe about his visit to Russia, occurred on December 2-3, in particular about his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Kishida informed prime minister about progress in talks between the two sides, in particular in discussions of the possible peace treaty.

Kishida also handed to Abe a personal letter from Putin.

Putin is scheduled to come to Japan on December 15-16 where he will meet Abe for talks on the strategy to revive bilateral relations.

During his visit to Russia, Kishida discussed with the Russian authorities bilateral ties, the issue of North Korea, Syria and Ukraine, as well as security in the Asia-Pacific Region. The main aim of the visit was to form agenda for the forthcoming meeting of Abe and Putin.

The Russian-Japanese relations are tainted by Tokyo's claims to Russia's four Kuril Islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai and Iturup. The 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty transferred the control of the islands to the Soviet Union. The Japanese government's stance prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a peace treaty after World War II.

The relations between the two states have recently been re-energized. In September, Abe took part in the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, during which he held three-hour talks with the Russian president. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the announcement of Putin's visit to Japan on December 15, which has been postponed from 2014.