TOKYO, April 21. /TASS/. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he has held talks with more than 30 representatives of Japan’s companies, including Mitsui, Mitsubishi and Marubeni.

"Many companies here are interested in cooperation with Russia and its energy companies. More than 30 representatives of companies - Mitsui, Mitsubishi and some others are present here," Novak said, adding that he also met with Marubeni’s CEO.

Novak said the sides discussed joint projects and also creating conditions to attract Japanese investments to Russia.

Russia and Japan will hold the third meeting of the consultative energy council on Friday attended by Novak and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, who oversees cooperation with Russia.

The two countries are now in talks on a number of joint energy projects. The sides discuss construction of a gas pipeline from Sakhalin, in Russia’s Far East, to the Tokyo Bay and building Sakhalin-Hokkaido energy bridge. The Japanese side is also interested in participation in oil and gas projects on Russia’s territory and also calls for increasing supplies of Russian energy resources.

Novak also said Russia and Japan are discussing an opportunity of establishing joint ventures producing power plant equipment.

Opportunities of building the power bridge from Sakhalin to Japan will also be discussed later today with Japan’s Economy Minister Hiroshige Seko, the energy minister added.