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

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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 during ShinzoAbe’s visit to Russia, 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.

Japanese Kyodo news agency reported citing government sources that more than 20 medical care and urban environment projects will be signed during the visit and added that the projects were not included on the list of 80 documents signed during Putin’s visit to Japan in December.

A spokesman for Putin said in a statement published on Tuesday that Putin and Abe will discuss fulfillment of earlier agreements and prospects of further political, trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation.

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