[Provisional translation]

On September 2 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Vladivostok in the Russian Federation to attend the second Eastern Economic Forum and other events.

Prime Minister Abe held talks with H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russia Federation, at Far Eastern Federal University.

After the meeting, the Prime Minister said,

“I spoke at length with President Putin about the many issues facing the international community; not just Japan-Russia relations, but also the North Korea issue, and the issues of Syria and Ukraine. In particular, I feel that the two of us alone were able to have a fairly in-depth discussion about the peace treaty. 

We will concretely advance negotiations based on a new approach. I think that this meeting was one in which I was able to see the path towards that, and get a sense of President Putin’s response on this issue.

I think that the only option available to us, if we are going to have a breakthrough on this unusual situation in which a peace treaty still hasn’t been negotiated over a period of time lasting more than 70 years, is to develop an issue resolution strategy based on the relationship of trust established between the two of us, as the leaders of our countries. To that end, I committed to holding a summit meeting during the APEC meeting to be held in Peru in November. Beyond that, we agreed to hold a summit meeting when I welcome President Putin to Yamaguchi Prefecture on December 15. We will accelerate the process towards a peace treaty within the calm and quiet surroundings of my hometown, Nagato City. I want to take that opportunity to hold such a meeting.”