Abe Leaves for Vladivostok

September 10, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok Monday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day.

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the annual Eastern Economic Forum conference hosted by Russia.

Abe aims to make progress during the talks with Putin in their countries' plan to conduct joint economic activities on northwestern Pacific islands held by Moscow but claimed by Tokyo.

"I'm determined to advance relations between Japan and Russia in every field so that the two countries will resolve their territorial dispute and sign a peace treaty," Abe told reporters at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda before his departure.

The dispute over the islands, seized from Japan by Soviet troops in the closing days of World War II, prevents Tokyo and Moscow from concluding a peace treaty to formally end their wartime hostilities.

Abe said he also plans to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his stay in Vladivostok.

Abe said, "I'm willing to further advance relations between Japan and China that are entering into a new stage." Jiji Press