VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), (Sputnik) — The EEF is currently underway on Russky Island near Russia's eastern city of Vladivostok. The forum, which will run through Saturday, is expected to attract some 2,500 participants, from countries including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Australia, the United States and Singapore.
"As Japan's leader I am sure that Japanese position is right, as well as you, Vladimir is sure that Russia's position is right. But if we continue in the same way we will debate it for decades.If everything is left without changes, then neither I, nor you will be able to provide the further generations with better opportunities. Vladimir, we are people of the same generation, let's show the courage and take responsibility on us. Let's overcome all the difficulties and leave to people of the next generation the world, in which our two states will fulfill our potential. Let's close the chapter in this anomalous situation, which has lasted for 70 years and will together construct a new era in Japanese-Russian relations, which will last for the next 70 years."
Abe added that he was ready to exert every effort to develop the bilateral ties.
Points to Economic Cooperation Possibilities
Japanese Prime Minister has offered Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet once a year in Vladivostok to discuss the implementation of a plan on bilateral cooperation, saying that economic cooperation would be mutually beneficial for Russia and Japan.
"The relations between the economies of our counties are not competitive, I am certain that they ideally complement each other. Lets think about such future development so as to stimulate each other on the demand side and on the supply side."
Abe offered Putin to hold meetings once a year in Russia to discuss the implementation of a plan on cooperation between the two countries.
"I want to make a new proposition to Mr. Putin: lets meet once a year here in Vladivostok and check together how the eight points of the plan on our cooperation are being implemented."
He expressed hope that he would visit Vladivostok again in the near future.
"I would really like for it [visiting Vladivostok] to happen in the very near future."
The Japanese prime minister stressed that Russia’s partnership with Japanese companies will help Russia achieve greater industrial power.
Lack of WWII Peace Treaty Between Russia, Japan
Shinzo Abe stated that lack of a peace treaty after World War II between Tokyo and Moscow is "not normal."
"The situation that the peace treaty between Japan and Russia, which are important neighbors for each other with an unlimited potential, still has not been reached, can not be called otherwise than not normal."
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.
