LOC22:43
19:43 GMT
MOSCOW, May 26 (KUNA) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking after summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday, said Tokyo and Russia agreed to move forward to signing a peace treaty.
He was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying Japanese and Russian investment in the Kuril Islands would contribute to a peace treaty.
Abe said mutual confidence should be deepened without undermining the legal positions of any country over Kuril Islands, claimed by the two countries.
Abe said they agreed to continue close cooperation towards denuclearlization of the Korean Peninsula.
Putin said the two sides would work towards common grounds for the disputed Kuril islands. Russia, he added, would facilitate visits of Japanese people to the Kuril.
Russia took control of the Kuril islands after Japan's defeat in the Second World War.
Japan wants to restore sovereignty over the four islands, which are rich with oil, gas and minerals. (end)
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