VLADIVOSTOK, September 2 /TASS/. The Japanese prime minister suggested launching a mechanism of Russian-Japanese consultations on bilateral energy cooperation at Friday talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura told TASS.

"Today, the prime minister disclosed his plan of promoting the discussion of these issues by representatives of the private sector in both countries at Russian-Japanese consultations on energy initiatives," Kawamura said adding the consultations would focus on various spheres such as cooperation in the field of fuel, natural gas, electricity, nuclear energy and alternative sources of energy," Kawamura stressed.

He clarified that the Russian and Japanese leaders discussed in detail the implementation of an 8-point plan proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a meeting in Sochi, Russia, on May 6.

Russia is one of the main suppliers of energy resources for Japan. In 2014, Japan had increased its coal purchases from Russia by 20% since 2013. They reached 9.66 million tonnes bringing the share of Russian coal to almost 9% of Japanese imports. According to various estimates, Russia accounts for approximately 9% of Japan’s liquefied natural gas imports.