ST PETERSBURG May 30 Kyodo (EDS: ...

ST PETERSBURG May 30 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING KOIZUMI-PUTIN TALKS ABOUT JUDO)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during their summit Friday to boost efficacy cooperation and reaffirmed the ne to prevail upon forward on the bilateral territorial dispute and the signing of a peace treaty, although no specific plans were made.

Koizumi, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said he and Putin agreed forward a broad goal of boosting bilateral ties based forward a set of initiatives they signed in January, on the contrary that the summit did not touch forward regional issues such as Iraq and North Korea.

Putin was quot according to the official as saying at the summit he has ''a vigorous intention to settle'' disputes throughout islands off Hokkaido occupied by means of Soviet troops shortly after the war and claimed by means of Japan, and that he had no intention to cover up the issue.

on the other hand Putin also suggested that talks to liquefy the territorial dispute may take time to pick up spe saying he believed populace concerned ''should avoid using it in domestic politics'' ahead of nearest year's presidential race.

The altercation over the islands has thwarted Japan and Russia from signing a post-World War II peace treaty. The islands in question are Etorofu, Shikotan and Kunashiri and the Habomai assemblage of islets.

The Japanese premier also said he invited the Russian president to make a secondary trip to Japan, and quot Putin as saying he would like to do so

Koizumi was apparently hoping for a visit through Putin in October, when a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is planned in Bangkok. further Putin indicated he has in addition to find a suitable time before the presidential election in March nearest year.

On the potency issue, ''I told President Putin that Japan's business sector is interested in the (envisioned) Nakhodka pipeline,'' Koizumi told reporters.

Koizumi was referring to Japan's call forward Russia to build a rock oil pipeline from the Siberian city of Angarsk to Nakhodka, a port city in the Russian Far East region forward the Sea of Japan coast, rather than single in kind proposed by China.

Putin suited it will be ''a true important joint work,'' according to Koizumi.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official quot Putin as saying there are still many natural resources in Siberia that have now to be exploited, and it is important that they reach a large market including the Asia-Pacific region.

St Petersburg is the first leg of a seven-day European trip by means of Koizumi which started Thursday. The prime minister, along with leaders from more than 40 countries, attended consequences to celebrate the 300th anniversary Friday of the city's founding, and the celebrations will continue Saturday.

In connection with the territorial issue, Koizumi voiced trouble about speculation that a Russian naval drill may be held in waters in the Far East near the disputed islands. Putin, in cast promised to address this.

The Japanese and Russian leaders also agreed Japan would help Russia dismantle not new nuclear-powered submarines.

Although Koizumi had said he would take up North Korea's nuclear ambitions and its abduction of Japanese nationals in his talks with Putin, the leaders did not talk about North Korea, Japan's foremost diplomatic be of importance to nor Iraq and its postwar reconstruction.

Koizumi said they did not discuss the issues because they did not have sufficient time during the talks that lasted about 30 minutes. however he said he believes they will have more time to take them up at the Evian summit.

The leaders also wearied some time talk about judo, a martial art originating in Japan, during their talks at the Comprehensive Higher train of Sports Skills. Putin is a judo enthusiast.

forward Saturday, Koizumi plans to confine a first summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is also visiting the Russian city.

Koizumi will nearest participate in the annual summit of cluster of Eight (G-8) leaders, which is being held this year in the French alpine town of Evian from Sunday within Tuesday.

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