The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Novo-Ogaryovo

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda joined Russia's leaders on Saturday in praising improved ties and pledging to further negotiations over the disputed Kuril Islands. President Vladimir Putin, due to become prime minister after leaving the Kremlin on May 7, told Fukuda at a presidential residence outside Moscow that relations had substantially improved.

"In the last two or three years we managed to change our relations in a qualitative manner," Putin said.

Fukuda, who went on to meet with Putin's newly-elected successor Dmitry Medvedev, also said that "cooperation is developing" ahead of July's Group of Eight (G8) summit in Japan.