Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko agreed Wednesday on protocols for visa-free visits to a chain of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido by former Japanese residents and their families.

The first round of visa-free visits will be conducted in mid-September, a Foreign Ministry official said.

During talks Wednesday at the ministry, Komura told Khristenko that such visits are extremely significant for maintaining sound relations and that the agreement will add momentum to strengthening ties, the official said.

Khristenko said he expects the first round of visits to coincide with talks scheduled between Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in mid-September in Auckland during a meeting of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the official said.

Although specific dates and destinations have yet to be announced, it is believed that some 50 former residents of the islands and their families will visit Shibotsu Island in the Habomai group of islets Sept. 11-12.

Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai group of islets were seized by Soviet troops at the end of World War II and have been the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute that has obstructed efforts to forge a peace treaty by the end of 2000.

Khristenko reiterated Moscow's determination to have Russian President Boris Yeltsin visit Japan, but did not mention specific dates, the official said.

Komura underlined the significance of Japan's decision to unfreeze $1.5 billion in untied loans from the Export-Import Bank of Japan in a show of support for Russia's reform efforts. Obuchi had told Khristenko of the decision Tuesday.

Before Khristenko leaves Saturday, the two sides will sign an agreement to move the outstanding $1.1 billion portion of the $1.5 billion loan package.

After providing $400 million, Japan stopped disbursing the loans when the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank suspended financial aid following Russia's economic crisis last summer.

Khristenko is in Japan on a five-day visit to discuss bilateral trade and economic issues with Komura. The two serve as co-chairmen of an intergovernmental committee aimed at promoting economic ties.

At the committee's session later in the day, the two sides were expected to discuss cooperation in the fields of energy, investment and tourism as well as economic cooperation in the Far East, the official said.

The Japanese will convey support for the idea of creating a Russian development bank to help Moscow recover from the financial and economic crisis that hit the country last summer, the official said.