YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK (Russia), (Sputnik) — Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Japan to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. As a result, the sides agreed to establish joint economic activities on the Southern Kurils in a bid to create a favorable atmosphere for talks on a peace treaty between the countries.
"We are ready to provide conditions for the participation of Japanese companies in the implementation of projects on the Southern Kurils, such as construction of housing and roads, establishment of waste treatment plants and the aquaculture field. I think, you should go there on a visit. I officially invite you to visit the islands together with Japanese businessmen, for on-site discussions of the possibility of conducting joint economic activities on these territories," Kozhemyako said during a bilateral meeting with the Hokkaido prefect in Tokyo, as quoted by the press service.
Takahashi, in turn, welcomed the proposal, but said the issue would have to first be considered by the Japanese government, which would work out a corresponding position.
"We hope that this will be done soon, and the mode of joint economic activities will be implemented on the South Kuril Islands," Takahashi reportedly said.
Moscow and Tokyo never signed a permanent peace treaty after the World War II due Tokyo's claims to a group of Russian islands, encompassing Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.
