Russia, Japan sign economic accord
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-21 18:46

Japan agreed Monday to back Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, as leaders of the two nations promised to work toward resolving a territorial dispute that has hampered relations for 60 years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, is led by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi into a conference room for talks at his official residence in Tokyo Monday, Nov. 21, 2005. Putin and Koizumi began a summit meeting Monday expected to focus on economic issues, with the leaders unlikely to discuss a 60-year territorial dispute over four tiny, sparsely populated islands that has marred bilateral ties. [AP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also agreed on a joint program to combat terrorism and cooperate in energy, communications and tourism issues.

Their summit focused largely on economic ties, which the leaders said would help pave the way toward progress in the dispute over four tiny, sparsely populated islands that has prevented the nations from signing a World War II peace treaty.

The islets in the Kuril chain, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by Soviet troops in the closing days of the conflict. Control over the islands, which are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are thought to have natural gas deposits, has since become a hot political and nationalistic issue on both sides.

"We will further deepen our economic cooperation to strengthen mutual confidence, so that in the future we can sign a peace treaty," Koizumi said at a joint news conference with Putin.

Putin said he was "fully determined to work in that direction to solve all the issues we face."

Page:

1

2

3