TOKYO - MAY 12: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (not pictured) at the Aso's official residence on May 12, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Despite Russia's wish to increase business ties with Japan, Prime Minister Putin is not expected to cede ground on the important and historical dispute over territorial rights to Pacific Islands. Getty Images logo Getty Images 6 months ago

TOKYO - MAY 12: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (not pictured) at the Aso's official residence on May 12, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Despite Russia's wish to increase business ties with Japan, Prime Minister Putin is not expected to cede ground on the important and historical dispute over territorial rights to Pacific Islands.

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  1. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  2. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  3. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  4. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  5. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  6. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  7. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  8. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress attend talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  9. TOKYO - NOVEMBER 30: Japanese comedy group The Newspaper pose, as they mimic former Japanese Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi (L) and Taro Aso, for a stage greeting before the Japan Premiere of 'Capitalism: A Love Story' at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills on November 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. The film will open at a limited number of theaters in Tokyo and Osaka on December 5, and throughout the rest of Japan on January 9, 2010.
  10. Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) shakes hands with former prime minister and Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ex-leader Taro Aso (L) after Tanigaki was elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009. Tanigaki replaces Aso, who stepped down as LDP president and prime minister after an August 30 election rout.
  11. Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) shakes hands with former prime minister and Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ex-leader Taro Aso (L) after Tanigaki was elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009. Tanigaki replaces Aso, who stepped down as LDP president and prime minister after an August 30 election rout.
  12. This combo made on October 13, 2009 of three images shows (on top) two pictures of details of a freso found on a wall of a house in Civitavecchi near Rome and (bottom), Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso giving a press conference on July 7, 2009 at Palazzo Chigi, the Prime Ministry in Rome, in front of a reproduction of the original fresco painted by renaissance master Raphael in the Room of Heliodorus at The Vatican. The fresco found in a bedroom of Palazzo Manzi in Civitavecchia is part of four frescos by an unknown artist, a Raphael's contemporary.
  13. New President of the Liberal Democratic Party Sadakazu Tanigaki, second from right, shakes hands with his predecessor and former Prime Minister Taro Aso, second from left, and two other LDP presidential election candidates, Taro Kono, right, and Yasutoshi Nishimura, after Tanigaki was chosen as the party leader during the LDP parliamentarian meeting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009.
  14. New President of the Liberal Democratic Party Sadakazu Tanigaki, right, shakes hands with his predecessor and former Prime Minister Taro Aso after he was chosen as the party leader during the LDP parliamentarian meeting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009. Japan's former ruling party elected former Finance Minister Tanigaki, 64, as its new leader, and he vowed to bring the once-dominant Liberal Democrats back to power.
  15. Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (2nd R) joins hands with former prime minister Taro Aso (2nd L) and two other candidates Yasutoshi Nishimura (L) and Taro Kono (R) as Tanigaki is elected as Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader at the party headquarters in Tokyo on September 28, 2009. Tanigaki replaces Aso, who stepped down as LDP president and prime minister after an August 30 election rout.
  16. Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (C) bows his head as Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers applaud as Tanigaki is elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009. Tanigaki replaces Taro Aso, who stepped down as LDP president and prime minister after an August 30 election rout.

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