(VOVworld) –Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia-Japan relations are improving and the visit to Russia by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will help.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a meeting in Moscow on April 27 (Photo: EPA/ VNA)

At a press conference following his meeting with Prime Minister Abe on Thursday, President Putin said Moscow is ready to cooperate to resolve any pending issues. Mr. Putin said a peace deal treaty between Russia and Japan must benefit the two countries strategically and must be approved by both peoples. President Putin also said leaders of the two countries should spend more time discussing bilateral cooperation in multilateral organizations, especially the United Nations and the UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Abe said he hopes Japanese and Russian leaders will work closely together to reach a peace deal soon.