The leaders of Japan and Russia agreed Saturday that the two countries will discuss a bilateral territorial dispute "in a quiet atmosphere."
In a meeting held prior to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Hawaii, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reaffirmed the need to solve the territorial issue before signing a peace treaty, a senior Japanese official said.
Medvedev invited Noda to Russia. The Japanese leader said he appreciates the invitation and will study it, according to the official.