Senior Japanese and Russian officials held their first meeting Saturday to discuss ways of jointly developing four Russia-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan.

The focus is on how the two sides can agree on a special framework without adversely affecting their legal stances on the sovereignty of the islands. The sovereignty issue has prevented to the two nations from signing a peace treaty to officially end World War II.

The two sides discussed projects in such areas as health care and fisheries but still need to work out a legal arrangement to avoid compromising their stances on sovereignty.