Russia, Japan have a lot in common as to their foreign political stances

Dominating a meeting between a delegation of the Russian State Duma, or the lower parliamentary house, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi were problems of Russo-Japanese relations. "We noted that our foreign political stances are very much the same," Gennady Seleznyov, State Duma Speaker, leading the delegation on a visit to Japan, told reporters. However, the two countries have not as of yet signed a peace treaty, which puts certain limits on the development of bilateral relations, the problem that was touched on at the meeting, according to Mr Seleznyov.

Mr Seleznyov pointed to the Russia-sponsored version of the treaty and proposed it be ratified.

The host country's foreign minister chose to say nothing about the proposal, according to the speaker. Russia's version does not contain any reference whatsoever to the two countries' territorial dispute, the fact Japan is not happy about.

The Russia-sponsored treaty is an "outdated document, which was drafted on the Russian foreign ministry's initiative. Japan knows its contents perfectly well, but is not happy about the document since it does not deal with the territorial problems, elaborated Mr Seleznyov.