On the evening of the 8th, a Russo-Japanese summit was held where the leaders shared an understanding to continue top-level negotiations toward resolving the problem of the Northern Territories.

This is the first time ever, including the Soviet era, for the leader of Russia, which has had a long-standing problem with Japan over the Northern Territories, to visit Hokkaido. The meeting between Prime Minister Fukuda and Russia's President Medvedev lasted an hour. With regard to the Northern Territories, the leaders shared an understanding to aim for a speedy resolve of the problem and to continue top-level negotiations toward concluding a peace treaty.

[Interview with a former Northern Territory island resident (1)]
"We always keep hoping. After all, the leaders of the two nations have come all the way to Hokkaido to have top-level talks. You can't help but pin hopes on them."

[Interview with a former island resident (2)]
"I still can't see the overall picture, so to comment on just what I can, I get the feeling that they've gone just a bit deeper than before, unlike past talks."

In addition, an agreement was reached for Russia's Premier Putin, who continues to wield a powerful influence after leaving the Presidential post, to visit Japan this year for strategic political talks.