Japanese, Russian governors to start holding conferences again+

TOKYO, April 27 Kyodo - The first conference of Russian and Japanese governors in 13 years will be held in Moscow on Sunday with talks expected to center on exchanges in the fields of trade, culture and tourism, the National Governors' Association said Tuesday.

The Russian side proposed the resumption of the conferences, last held in 1997
with the 14th of its kind, during an informal meeting of governors from both
countries nearly a year go on the sidelines of a visit to Tokyo by Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Fukuoka Gov. Wataru Aso, who heads the association, Hokkaido Gov. Harumi
Takahashi and five other Japanese governors are scheduled to attend the
upcoming conference along with Tokyo Vice Gov. Kanji Murayama. The Russian side
will be represented by 15 governors.
The Japanese participants will visit the Russian Far Eastern city of
Vladivostok on May 5 to hold talks with local government and industrial
officials, according to the association.
==Kyodo