Moscow, Tokyo discuss date of Putin’s visit to Japan - ambassador

TOKYO, December 22. /TASS/. Moscow and Tokyo are discussing the date of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan that is due to take place "in an appropriate time," Russian Ambassador to Japan Yevgeny Afanasyev said on Tuesday. "Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe has invited President Putin to visit Japan and his invitation has been accepted," the ambassador said at a press conference in the National press club. "The visit should take place in the most appropriate time for the both sides. Many people say it was delayed but no specific dates were set," the diplomat said, adding that it is most important to discuss what needs to be done to hold the visit. The sides should particularly outline the deals that will be signed during the visit and what projects will be launched. "We should focus on this work and the date will come up itself." "Besides, it is important to note that our leaders remain in a permanent contact," the ambassador said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Antalya on November 16 that the Japanese prime minister plans to visit one of Russia’s regions before Putin’s official visit to Tokyo. Peskov stressed that Putin’s visit to Japan "will be further discussed." Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on December 11 that Tokyo continues looking for possibilities to hold a dialogue with Russia at the highest level in accordance with bilateral agreements. Russia and Japan have no peace treaty signed after World War II. Settlement of the problem inherited by Russia’s diplomacy from the Soviet Union is hampered by the years-long dispute over the four islands of Russia’s Southern Kurils - Shikotan, Khabomai, Iturup and Kunashir, which Japan calls its northern territories. Read more