Japanese PM to visit Russia

Moscow, April 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) In a first visit by a Japanese premier to Russia in a decade, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be undertaking an official visit from April 28-30 on an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin earlier reported that Russian-Japanese top-level talks would be held

Monday.

The two sides plan to discuss trade, economic, investment, energy, humanitarian, scientific and technological cooperation, and sign a number of bilateral documents.

The will also and discuss international issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

One of the key problems in bilateral relations is the issue of the Kuril Islands.

The row over the islands - which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories - has prevented Tokyo and Moscow from signing a permanent peace treaty following the end of World War II.

It remains a major stumbling block in the development of bilateral relations.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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