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The leaders of Russia and Japan have agreed at their meeting to intensify negotiations to draft a peace treaty, based on the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, colleagues,

We are all pleased to meet you again.

Our relations are developing steadily. We maintain regular contact. Our trade is growing: it increased by 14 percent last year and by 17.7 percent in the first nine months of this year.

I am glad to have an opportunity to discuss all aspects of our cooperation with you, including those you regard as a priority.

We will also meet at the G20 summit, and there is a schedule of our subsequent contacts.

I am glad to see you.

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe (retranslated): I am happy to meet with President Putin today.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the hospitality we received in the beautiful city of Vladivostok in September. I congratulate you on the success of the Eastern Economic Forum.

Since then, we have accomplished a business mission, which means that we are working to implement our plans for joint economic activities.

I am also happy with the progress we have made in the sphere of defence, which includes the October visit to Russia by Katsutoshi Kawano Chief of Staff of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces, and other consultations.

We are pressed for time today, but I hope we will be able to discuss not only bilateral issues, including the economy, but also the international situation, in particular, North Korea. I would also like to talk about the peace treaty. I am ready to devote considerable time to the issue of the peace treaty.

Vladimir Putin: Before we start to discuss practical topics, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election as head of the Liberal Democratic Party. This offers hope for continuing our dialogue as it has developed recently.

Shinzo Abe: Thank you.

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