TOKYO, September 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would like to use various international forums, including the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) due in Beijing in November, to continue the dialogue with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Monday.

“During a telephone conversation on September 21, Prime Minister Abe suggested to President Putin arranging bilateral meetings, using international forums, including the APEC summit in November,” he said.

Japan’s prime minister on Sunday said on air of the national television he hoped to continue fruitful dialogue with the Russian leader.

“From the moment I took the office, I had five meetings with President Putin,” the Japanese prime minister said.

He also said Moscow and Tokyo had outstanding problems awaiting decisions.

“Russia and Japan still have not signed a peace agreement,” the prime minister said. “Settlement of this issue is of national interests for Japan, and thus it is vital leaders of the countries continue their contacts.”

During the telephone conversation on September 21, Putin and Abe exchanged views on the current international agenda, including on the situation in Ukraine. The Kremlin’s press service reported the two leaders agreed to continue bilateral contacts at various levels.