The Japanese government has decided not to submit a bill to reform the Science Council of Japan, the country's leading academic body.

The government planned to submit to the current Diet session the revision bill that calls for participation of a third party in the process for selecting the council's members and the group's enhanced transparency as a national institute.

The bill drew opposition from the council, which says the proposed revision could undermine its independence.

Currently, a prime minister is required by law to appoint scholars recommended by the council. But in 2020, then Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide refused to appoint six nominees to the council.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with Economic Revitalization Minister Goto Shigeyuki, who is in charge of the matter.

They agreed on the need to continue discussions with the council in an effort to obtain its understanding for the bill.

After the meeting, Goto told reporters that he had thought if the government pushed through the revision bill and obtained a Cabinet approval, relations between the government and the council would lead to a serious rupture.

Kishida said that he told Goto to discuss the matter with the council in a sincere manner for an early conclusion.