Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called on Wednesday for sweeping tax reforms to boost investment-led growth, while pledging to keep the rouble stable without imposing any capital controls.
But Mr Byers - who is also secretary of state for the regions - received a boost in the form of the backing of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who predicted his colleague would play a major part in the next stage of the government's plans for devolution into the English regions.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Mr Putin - who also met on Friday - agreed to boost joint work on energy projects, and reaffirmed the need to sign a post-World War II peace treaty.