Report: Russia, Japan to study prospects of Kuril projects in May

TOKYO, Apr 26 (PRIME) -- Russia and Japan may send a group of government officials and business representatives to the Southern Kuril Islands in May to study prospects of joint projects in the region if President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agree on the issue on Thursday, Japanese television company NHK said in a report broadcast on Wednesday.

The group will research possibilities for environment protection, fishing, tourism, and medical servicing projects.

Russia and Japan agreed to discuss possible cooperation on the Southern Kuril Islands during Putin’s visit to Japan in December 15–16, 2016. Japan expects that the launch of joint economic activity on the islands will bring positions of the two countries on the disputed Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai islands closer and advance negotiations of a peace treaty that the countries are yet to sign after the World War II.

End