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Japan PM Abe in Russia for talks on territorial row, energy Japan and Russia agree to resolve island dispute
(about 11 hours later)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in Russia for the two nations' first top-level talks in a decade. Japan and Russia have agreed to hold talks to end a territorial dispute which has prevented them from signing a formal treaty to end World War II.
Discussions are set to focus on energy deals and a territorial row unresolved since the end of World War II. The agreement came as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Russia for the two nations' first top-level talks in a decade.
Ahead of the visit, Mr Abe said he wanted to build "a trusted personal relationship" with President Vladimir Putin. In a joint statement, he and Russian President Vladimir Putin said the lack of a treaty was "abnormal".
He also said he wanted to revive talks on a post-war peace deal - something so far prevented by the territorial row. The dispute centres on four islands north of Japan's Hokkaido island.
"I will work on boosting Japan-Russia relations so that this visit will mark a restart in stalled negotiations over a peace treaty," Mr Abe said ahead of his flight to Moscow. Japan calls the Northern Territories. Russia calls them the Southern Kurils and has controlled the islands since Soviet troops seized them from Japan at the end of World War II.
The dispute centres on four islands north of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories. No details of the leaders' agreement were given after their talks, but they said they had instructed their foreign ministries to "step up contacts" to discuss the various options, and that they were determined to overcome "existing differences".
Russia has controlled the islands since Soviet troops seized them from Japan at the end of World War II. "The talks on a peace treaty agreement in the last few years have been in a state of stagnation," said Mr Abe at a news briefing in the Kremlin.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has visited the islands twice in recent years, causing anger in Japan. "We managed to agree that we will renew these talks and we will speed up this process."
"I consider this a great result of this meeting," he said, adding that the two leaders had "established personal, trusting relations".
Mr Putin said the agreement "does not mean that we will solve everything tomorrow if the problem has not been solved for the past 67 years".
"But at least, we will continue work on this complex issue, but one that is so important for both sides," he said.
Gas hub
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has visited the disputed islands twice in recent years, causing anger in Japan.
In February, Japan scrambled fighters in response to what it said was an intrusion into its airspace by Russian fighters near the islands, as Mr Abe made a speech on the territorial row.In February, Japan scrambled fighters in response to what it said was an intrusion into its airspace by Russian fighters near the islands, as Mr Abe made a speech on the territorial row.
But energy is also set to be discussed, as Japan works to diversify its energy supply in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that has left almost all of its nuclear reactors suspended. Energy was also set to be discussed during the talks in Moscow, as Japan works to diversify its energy supply in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that has left almost all of its nuclear reactors suspended.
It is already a major importer of liquefied natural gas, including from the Russian Far East island of Sakhalin.It is already a major importer of liquefied natural gas, including from the Russian Far East island of Sakhalin.
Possible Japanese investment in a liquefied natural gas hub in Vladivostok, connected by a pipeline to gas fields in East Siberia, could be discussed, reports say.Possible Japanese investment in a liquefied natural gas hub in Vladivostok, connected by a pipeline to gas fields in East Siberia, could be discussed, reports say.
Prior to this visit Junichiro Koizumi was the last Japanese leader to visit Moscow, in 2003. After Russia, Mr Abe heads to Turkey and the Middle East.Prior to this visit Junichiro Koizumi was the last Japanese leader to visit Moscow, in 2003. After Russia, Mr Abe heads to Turkey and the Middle East.