Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived Sunday in Tokyo on a business-oriented visit unlikely to bring any progress in settling the 60-year territorial dispute that has prevented the two nations from formally ending World War II hostilities.
Putin has warned he wouldn't discuss ceding control of the four tiny, sparsely populated islands off Hokkaido that were seized by the Soviet army in the closing days of 1945.
Tokyo has said that during Putin's visit the two nations will sign an agreement endorsing Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organization.
Russia, which has to strike separate deals with WTO members as a condition for joining the 148-member global trade body, has launched economic and legal reforms to qualify for the membership.
After talks on Monday, Putin and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are expected to sign agreements on joint antiterrorism efforts, cooperation in information technologies and communications, and Japanese aid for dismantling Russia's decommissioned nuclear submarines, a Kremlin official said.
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