Vladimir Putin approves list for Russian-Japanese Council of Wise

President Vladimir Putin has approved a list of Russian participants in the Council of Wise, which is being formed jointly with Japan. The president's press service said Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who is co-chairman of the council, presented Putin with a list of participants and a working plan. However, Putin said that the list must be agreed on with Japanse colleagues.

The council was created to develop cooperation between the two countries and form a strategic plan. Putin agreed on the creation of the council with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi less than one month ago at a bilateral meeting held in Bangkok as part of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will be the other co-chairman of the council.