Abe hopes Japan to ink peace treaty with Russia under new PM

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hoping that his successor Yoshihide Suga will be able to boost talks with Russia to resolve the peace treaty issue, he said in an interview with Yomiuri Shimbun published Wednesday.

"The talks where national interests clash cannot be easy. However, we should not leave the territorial issues unattended. I hope that under Prime Minister Suga the talks will be revitalized and a peace treaty between Moscow and Tokyo will be signed," TASS cited him as saying.

According to Abe, Russia is also looking to "resolve the [peace treaty] issue in medium-and long-range prospect and strengthen ties with Japan."

Abe held 27 meetings with the Russian president since assuming his office in December 2012. In August, Abe announced his resignation, paving the way for Suga to become the prime minister on September 16.