Putin, Fukuda discuss G-8 summit agenda in Moscow

Moscow, Apr 26 (UNI) Outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held talks at presidential residence at Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow today on the agenda of G-8 summit to be hosted by Japan in July.

''We have two top-level meetings planned for today and for the G-8 summit on the island of Hokkiado,'' Fukuda said at the start of the talks with Putin.

''I would like to establish a personal trusting relationship, and using the positive dynamic that has been established, would like to give an additional boost to the strengthening of relations in all areas,'' RIA Novosti quoted Fukuda as saying, who is on his first visit to Russia.

Russia will be represented at the G-8 summit by Putin's successor, President-elect Dmitry Medvedev, who is also scheduled to hold talks with Fukuda today.

Medvedev will be inaugurated as President on May 7, and Putin will be approved as Prime Minister on May 8.

During the talks with Putin, the two sides also exchanged opinion on the peace treaty between Russia and Japan.

Putin told Fukuda the two countries were moving in the right direction on reaching a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.

A dispute over the South Kuril Islands (known in Japan as the Northern Territories), which were annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II, has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty.

''We are continuing dialogue on a peace agreement and are creating the right conditions for progress along this route,'' Putin noted.

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