OREANDA-NEWS. China considers the dispute over the Kuril Islands to be a matter of exclusively bilateral interrelations between Russia and Japan. This opinion was expressed by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Zhao Lijian.

"At the same time, the Chinese side has consistently advocated respect for and implementation of the results of the world war against fascism," he said at a briefing.

The day before, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Takeo Mori called Russian Ambassador Mikhail Galuzin to the Foreign Ministry and protested in relation to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to the Kuril Islands.

The Kremlin replied that the head of the Cabinet of Ministers himself will decide which Russian regions to visit.

Interrelations between Russia and Japan have been overshadowed for a long period of time by the absence of a peace treaty, which was never signed after World War II finished. The main obstacle has been the issue of the ownership of the Southern Kuriles (the islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup and the Habomai ridge). Japan claims them, citing the 1855 bilateral Treaty on Trade and Frontiers.

In 1956, the USSR and Japan signed a joint declaration in which Moscow agreed to review the possibility of transferring of two islands - Habomai and Shikotan, after the conclusion of a peace treaty. However, subsequent negotiations did not lead to anything.

The Kremlin has repeatedly pointed out that Japan must first of all recognize the results of World War II, and among them Russia's sovereignty over the South Kuriles.