Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday he wants to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan next year for bilateral talks.

"We are preparing for Putin to visit Japan at the most appropriate timing ... We will continue strenuous efforts to sign a peace treaty," Abe told reporters in Beijing at the end of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Abe has made improving ties with Russia a priority as a territorial dispute from World War Two between the two countries still remains unsolved.