Such meetings are held regularly either on Sakhalin or Hokkaido which are separated by La Perouse Strait.
Sakhalin Region Governor Ivan Malakhov held a meeting with Hokkaido Vice-Governor Shinji Asada, who is leading the Japanese delegation, and Hiramitsu Sugano, co-chairman of the Sakhalin-Hokkaido friendship society.
The governor emphasised that Sakhalin and Hokkaido were close geographically and were linked by years-long cooperation.
Their relations were brought to a higher level when the two border areas of Russia and Japan signed an agreement on friendship and economic cooperation in November 1998, according to Mr Malakhov.
On Tuesday, the Japanese delegates are expected to hold a plenary meeting to discuss cooperation prospects.
The international oil and gas projects being implemented on Sakhalin can promote economic contacts between the Russian island and Hokkaido, according to Japanese delegates.
Representatives of Japan's Wakkanai port which is linked to Sakhalin by a summer ferry have suggested that the ferry should work all the year round due to the growing volume of industrial shipments.
Besides, the conferees believe they should step up cooperation in the agricultural sector.
Twelve cities on Sakhalin maintain twin contacts with cities in Hokkaido. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk even has three twin cities on Hokkaido: Asahikawa, Hakodate, and Wakkanai.
