Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold talks in Tokyo later Monday, with the two-hour meeting focusing on a longstanding territorial row and economic cooperation. Given that no tangible progress is expected on the territorial dispute over a group of islands off Hokkaido, energy and economic cooperation issues, including a planned oil pipeline linking eastern Siberia with the Russian Far East, are more likely to take center stage.
"Okay, two minutes on the islands - then we talk money."
Putin will attend a forum Monday morning and a luncheon, both hosted by the Japan Business Federation. On Tuesday, he will meet with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko before ending his visit.