Russian President Vladimir Putin told former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Tuesday he hopes to make his planned visit to Japan in November, Mori said.

Putin told Mori in a meeting on the outskirts of St. Petersburg he wants to make the trip either before or after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Busan, South Korea, on Nov. 18-19, the former Japanese premier told a press conference.

Putin also said he hopes to earnestly negotiate a bilateral peace treaty with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during his projected trip to Japan, according to Mori.

Last weekend, Koizumi asked Mori to convey to Putin that he wants the Russian leader to visit Japan at an opportune time for both sides.

The Russian president also told Mori that Moscow fully supports Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

Mori said Putin also told him that Russia will study a revised draft U.N. resolution at enlarging the Security Council prepared by Japan, Brazil, Germany and India.

The four countries are seeking to enlarge the U.N. Security Council with six new permanent members and four new nonpermanent members.

Mori, a senior lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, utilized his personal friendly ties with Putin to set the timing for the president's trip, according to sources close to the former prime minister.

Mori and Putin met for the 10th time since their first face-to-face encounter in April 2000 when Mori was prime minister, and the first time since they held talks in Moscow in April last year.

The Russian government invited Mori so that the two men could ''hold relaxed talks as friends,'' according to diplomatic sources.

Source: Agencies