Russian, Japanese leaders to meet despite recent tension

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo, for the APEC Summit in Yokohama, November 12, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan face- to-face on Saturday, said a Kremlin aide Friday.

The meeting will be held on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Yokohama, Japan, said Sergei Prikhodko.

"There are no any obstacles for such a meeting. We informed the Japanese side about our positive attitude to the meeting with Japan's prime minister. We are ready to discuss any topics," said Prikhodko as quoted by news agencies.

Tokyo has been irritated by Medvedev's trip to one of the four disputed Pacific islands, which were occupied by Russia and claimed by Japan earlier this month. Japan recalled its ambassador Masaharu Kono from Moscow for a week in protest.

Head of the foreign affairs committee of Russia's Federation Council, Mikhail Margelov, said the return of the Japanese ambassador back to Moscow meant that Tokyo did not intent to fan the incident further.

"Nothing can and must hinder the continuation of Russia-Japanese dialog and the development of cooperation," he said.

Russia and Japan have long been at odds due to the territorial dispute over the islands, which has blocked a peace treaty between the two countries since the end of World War II.

Source: Xinhua