Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov called Monday for Japan's cooperation in developing oil in eastern Siberia that would supply a planned pipeline linking the region with Japan -- or China.
"In order to develop (east Siberia), we need cooperation from the neighboring countries, including Japan," because the area's oil resources would also benefit those countries, Kasyanov said during a meeting with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, according to a Japanese official.
Russia is currently under heavy pressure to choose between pipeline projects proposed by China and Japan: one to go through Daqing in northeastern China and the other to reach Japan via Nakhodka.
Russia has delayed the decision for months, apparently to strike a favorable deal on the project through fierce competition between Japan and China.
Japan believes the decision won't be made until after Russia's presidential election in March, a government source said.
Kawaguchi, meanwhile, stressed that building the pipeline to Nakhodka, rather than Daqing, would benefit Russia both strategically and economically.
"(The Nakhodka route) would play a significant role in reinforcing Russia's relationship with the Asia-Pacific region," Kawaguchi said.
Kasyanov said he hopes to meet Japanese businesspeople interested in the pipeline project, whom he described as "potential (business) partners," the official said.
Kasyanov arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a three-day visit.
He will meet Tuesday with Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and business leaders in the energy field before meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Kawaguchi conveyed her intention to visit Russia in the first half of next year to meet with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to discuss a long-standing dispute over the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan.