VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- Japan and Russia agreed Monday on an action plan for launching joint economic projects in a chain of Russian-controlled islands that Japan claims as the Northern Territories, in a step toward resolving their long-standing dispute.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Vladimir Putin met here ahead of the Eastern Economic Forum. This marked their 22nd one-on-one talks, including those from Abe's first run as Japan's prime minister in 2006 and 2007.
