Russian President Vladimir Putin's planned visit to Japan will be an important event on the bilateral agenda of this year, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev said Thursday.

Alexeyev told the Itar-Tass news agency that Russia and Japan now have different stances on the peace treaty problem, but a package of final documents on the treaty is being hammered out.

Territorial disputes over four islands in the South Kuril ridge have prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty to increase bilateral trade.

Putin's trip, which Moscow hopes will take place this year, is expected to be "a noticeable landmark on the way of progress toward real partnership between Russia and Japan," said Alexeyev.

The deputy foreign minister said Russia is optimistic about the possibilities of further developing the bilateral economic relations, saying "noticeable improvements have taken place in this sphere."

The trade volume between Russia and Japan exceeded 8 billion US dollars in 2004 and preliminary estimates signaled further growth for this year, the official said.

Source: Xinhua