Russia is seeking to establish a constructive partnership with Japan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at talks with his Japanese counterpart on Monday.
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada arrived for a two-day visit to Russia on Sunday to consider prospects for resolving a bilateral territorial dispute and to discuss the dates of Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's possible visit to Russia, according to a Japanese diplomatic source.
"We are also open for so-called original approaches [to the territorial issue]," Lavrov said at a news conference after the talks, without elaborating on his statement.
Tokyo's continued claim over four South Kuril Islands (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai) has so far prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty to end World War II hostilities.
The four southern islands of the chain to the northeast of Japan were annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II.
Lavrov described his first talks with Okada as "friendly."
"We have established good contact and expect this to help create a friendly and constructive atmosphere for further talks," the Russian diplomat said.
MOSCOW, December 28 (RIA Novosti)
