国际英语资讯:No progress made on long-standing territorial row during Abe-Putin summit_时事

国际英语资讯:No progress made on long-standing territorial row during Abe-Putin summit

TOKYO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Japan and Russia on Friday wrapped up a two-day summit between their top leaders but failed again to make breakthrough in a long-held sovereignty dispute which has been a major stumbling block for bilateral relations.

Putin, the first Russian president who paid a visit to Japan for a bilateral meeting in the past 11 years, met Abe in the Japanese prime minister's home prefecture of Yamaguchi and then in Tokyo for talks on territorial dispute, peace treaty issues as well as economic cooperation.

Russia and Japan have not signed a peace treaty formalizing the end of World War II mainly due to a territory row over four small islands in the Pacific which are called the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia..

The two sides agreed to start consultations on joint economic activities on the four disputed islands held by Russia but claimed by Japan, saying that it would mark an important step towards reaching a postwar peace treaty between the two countries that will formally end WWII, according to a press statement released by the two governments after their leaders' meeting.

Observers here, however, have noted that no progress seems to have been made over the dispute on sovereignty of the islands, with Japan still insisting the islands are its inherent territory, while Russia urging Japan to recognize the outcome of war.

Putin stressed at a joint press conference with Abe on Friday the legitimacy of Russia's acquiring for the four Pacific islands following the WWII, though agreeing on the importance of a peace treaty.