MOSCOW, December 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Japan have agreed to adopt a new format for bilateral talks, a Japanese diplomatic source said. This format, which Japan is calling the "Strategic Discussion," will operate on two levels.
At consultations on a political level, the Japanese side will be represented by the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and the Russian side, we expect, by Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov, the source said.
The first political level meeting will be held at the beginning of 2006 in one of the countries' capitals.
An agreement to hold talks through the new format was reached at the Russian-Japanese summit Tokyo in November.
The arrangements for talks on a non-political level have not yet been finalized.
Tokyo is conducting similar consultations with its main partner countries, particularly the United States, the source said.
The "strategic discussion" must focus on issues relating to international and regional stability and security, the source said.
