Sep 11 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin have concluded their meeting in Russia's Far East. They agreed to draw up a schedule of joint economic projects on the islands known as the Northern Territories.
Abe said, "We agreed on the details and how to implement the projects. They cover five areas --aquaculture, greenhouse agriculture, developing tours, wind power, and waste reduction."
Abe said the path to future cooperation on the islands is growing clearer. Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them.
Abe said that Japan will dispatch business missions to the islands.
Putin said, "I'm satisfied that we were able to form a roadmap. We also agreed to hold the third business mission by the end of the year."
Abe pledged that Japan will work closely with Russia to address North Korean issues.
He told Putin that Japan hasn't ruled out the possibility of economic cooperation with the North if the issues are settled comprehensively and diplomatic ties are normalized.
The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.
