According to the Kremlin, Japan’s Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to discuss the disputed Kuril Islands, known in Japan as "the Northern Territories". Gemba is already in Russia - his first visit since taking office.

He’s due to hold talks on the territorial dispute and lay groundwork for further meetings. On Wednesday, Gemba said he was open to the possibility of Japan jointly administering the Kuril Islands with Russia.

The Japanese Foreign Minister was among the first Japanese politicians to openly entertain a Russian proposal to jointly develop the four disputed islands, so long as the form of cooperation is in line with Japan’s official stance.

The Kuril Islands dispute has clouded relations between Moscow and Tokyo for decades. Gemba is also planning to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.