"The decision that such a meeting will be held has been taken. However, there is uncertainty regarding the dates. Deputy Foreign Minister [Takeo] Akiba will head the Japanese delegation at the August meeting," Tajima said, adding that the date is being coordinated.
The Russian-Japanese relations have long been complicated by the fact that the two nations have never signed a permanent peace treaty after World War II ended. This was due to a disagreement over a group of four islands claimed by both countries: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.
In late April, Putin and Abe reached an agreement to send to the Kuril islands a joint group of government officials and business representatives in order to study the prospects of cooperation there.
In late June, the Japanese delegation comprising almost 70 people, including the representatives of 32 private companies, state and municipal structures visited the Southern Kurils. The group visited 64 objects, including a salmon fertilizing facility, a hotel, hospitals and a geothermal power station.