Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will host Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. The two leaders will meet at a resort in Abe's home constituency in southwest Japan on Thursday. They will also meet in Tokyo on Friday.

Abe and Putin are expected to touch upon the dispute over islands in the western Pacific, which has been a thorn in their relations. Ahead of the visit, Putin told Japanese media there are no territorial disputes between the two countries. Some 30 deals on economic cooperation are expected to be signed.

Abe faces criticism for offering to strengthen economic ties with Russia in exchange for the disputed islands. Putin hopes to clinch deals with Japanese companies. This is in response to sanctions imposed by some western countries and Japan for Russia's role in the conflict in Ukraine.