Abe,Putin to hold talks on sidelines of APEC summit

23092014

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Russian President VladimirPutin that they would hold talks on sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to be held in Beijing in November on bilateral ties, Japan’s top government spokesman said here Monday.

Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, said Abe’s proposal was made during a telephone meeting between the two leaders on Sunday, with analysts here saying that the move is to avoid a talk with Putin in Japan which would made the United Statesdisappointed.

“The prime minister told President Putin that it is important to hold dialogue between Japan and Russia on the occasion of international conferences, including the APECsummit,” Suga was quoted as reporting.

Japan has joined in hands with the United States and some European countries to impose sanctions against Russia over its moves in Ukraine, but Japan also wants the sanctions will not affect Japan-Russia talks over territorial dispute.

Japan and Russia are at odds over a series of islands north off Japan’s Hokkaido, and the issue is prevent the two sides from signing a peace treaty since the end of World War II.