Abe, Putin discuss islands row

Beijing says pleased to see the two neighbors develop normal and friendly cooperation

Being on a different wavelength with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may find it impossible to settle the territorial dispute between the two countries during Putin's visit that began at a hot springs resort in Abe's ancestral hometown of Nagato, Yamaguchi prefecture, on Thursday.

Japan put the issue high on the agenda for the first day of Putin's two-day visit.