Russia and Japan to continue peace treaty talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is willing to continue negotiations with Japan on a peace treaty. Putin made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Putin says Russia will create conditions for making headway in the issue. Russia and Japan have never signed a peace treaty formally ending World War Two due to territorial disputes over four Pacific islands. Putin says he is satisfied with the level of political contacts between Russia and Japan.

The outgoing president also says there are ways to resolve the existing problems. Fukuda says Russian-Japanese relations are developing steadily and Putin has played a major role in the development of cooperation.