Russia and Japan are considering the possibility of organizing voyages for tourists around South Kuril Islands as part of their joint economic activities in the region.
Following the visit of Russia's President Vladimir Putin to Japan on December 15 last year and his meetings with PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, a joint statement was adopted, saying that the start of consultations on joint economic activities on South Kuril Islands would be a major step to signing a peace treaty by the neighbors.
The sides assumed that the statement and any agreements reached on the background on establishing joint economic activities and implementation of those activities would not hurt the positions of Japan and Russia regarding the peace treaty issue.
Japan and Russia have no peace treaty signed after WWII. The settlement of the problem inherited by the diplomacy of Russia from the Soviet Union is hampered by years-long dispute over the 4 islands of Russia’s Southern Kurils - Iturup, Khabomai, Kunashir and Shikotan, which Japan calls its northern territories.