Russian, Japanese Leaders Discuss Joint Economic Activities on S Kuril Islands

"[We have] thoroughly and frankly discussed the issues of free visit of their homeland by former residents of the islands, joint economic activities between the two countries with a special regime on the islands, as well as the issue of a peace treaty," Abe told journalists.

The Russian-Japanese relations are tainted by the territorial dispute between the two countries. Japan lays claims to the islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai and Iturup, which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan the Northern Territories. The territorial dispute has led to the situation that Moscow and Tokyo have never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War II.