MOSCOW - Russia on Thursday invited Japanese enterprises to develop investment cooperation in the four disputed Pacific islands.

"Certainly, we would welcome investments of our Japanese colleagues in the development of this remote territory of the Russian Federation," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich.

Recently while visiting the Russian capital, Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said possible Japanese investments in the disputed islands, which are called the Northern Territories in Japan and the South Kuril Islands in Russia, would be discussed at the top level.

Earlier, Japan rejected the proposal and claimed it "illegal".

Russia and Japan have long been at odds over the sovereignty of the four islands. In recent months, the row between Russia and Japan over the islands has escalated following a series of visits to the islands by top Russian officials, including President Dmitry Medvedev.