U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham responded favorably earlier this month to the possibility of the United States returning to an international project on developing fusion energy, state minister Koji Omi said Friday.

Japan has requested that the U.S. consider rejoining the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project.

Omi, minister in charge of science and technology policy, told a news conference he received a "forward-looking response" from Abraham during talks earlier this month.

However, the science minister noted that it is currently difficult for the U.S. to promote discussions on the issue in light of last week's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Omi also said he does not yet know whether Japan will launch an official bid to host the ITER during intergovernmental talks to be held in Canada in early October.

The government's Council for Science and Technology Policy needs to reach a consensus prior to making an official decision on the bid, he said.

Atsuko Toyama, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, said the same day that the government may select a candidate site for the ITER by the end of September.

But she added that the government is not obliged to make a decision by that date.

Scientists and engineers from Japan, Europe and Russia are working in worldwide collaboration to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes.

The members hope to complete the ITER around 2013. The project began in the late 1980s and the U.S. took part until 1998.