Russia, Japan vow hold talks to solve islands dispute

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday expressed determination to hold talks on solving a territorial dispute over Pacific islands that has prevented the two countries from signing a World War II peace treaty.

The two leaders agreed it was "abnormal" the countries had not signed a peace treaty 67 years after the end of World War II and expressed determination to overcome "the existing differences" on the islands dispute through talks, said a joint declaration adopted in the Kremlin. (AFP)