UPDATE: Russia, Japan has no basis for relations they desire – Putin

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TOKYO, Dec 13 (PRIME) -- Russia and Japan have no real foundation to build relations that correspond to the wish of both countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview to Japanese television company Nippon TV broadcast on Tuesday ahead of his visit to the country.

“Since 1995, when our diplomatic relations were restored, we have not had a basic foundation on which we could build relations that correspond to our wish and the needs of the current bilateral relations,” he said.

But joint economic activity, including activities on the southern Kuril Islands, may become one of the conditions for creation of trust-based relations and preparation of a peace treaty between Russia and Japan, he said.

Russia is ready to consider joint work with Japan on the Kuril Islands, but the conditions for the cooperation should be “as liberal as possible,” he said.

Moscow is also interested in participation of Japan in development of the Russian Far East and in an exchange of technologies in the car industry and agriculture.

“Just as I said, we are natural partners, and it is no secret that we are interested in participation of Japan in, say, development of the Russian Far East in general, in receiving technologies. We have good examples…in the car industry and in other sectors. Japanese people come to agriculture with pleasure. We also hope that Japan will open its markets for ecologically clean Russian meat products,” he said.

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