YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. Dec 10 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not discuss the transfer of the Kuril Islands to Japan at their last meeting, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev told journalists on Monday.
"In line of duty, I have taken part in a number of negotiations between Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Shinzo Abe. The problem of the transfer of the islands [the Southern Kuril Islands] has never been discussed," Trutnev said.
The two leaders have discussed only "aspects related to joint economic activities" of Russia and Japan in the Southern Kuril Islands, Trutnev said.
"I have said about this already. We believe Japan could be more active from the standpoint of investments in the Kuril Islands. I can't add anything more to that," he said.