The three-day summit of the Group of Eight (G8) kicked off on Monday with the first session between leaders of the industrialized nations and their counterparts from seven African countries.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is playing host for the G8 gathering, greeted other G8 leaders and the African leaders at the start of a working lunch which began at 12:30 local time at a lakeside resort of Toyako on the northern island of Hokkaido.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with U.S. President George W. Bush in a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda in the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko, Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan，July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
The lunch will be followed by a working session between the leaders of the G8 and seven African nations and the events are joined by leaders from the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations.
The Toyako summit would focus on, among other issues, climate change, the world economy and African development.
The presidents of Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia are expected to talk with leaders from Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Russia and the United States on aid to Africa and other issues in the afternoon.
Many African countries have urged developed countries, the G8 nations in particular, to make good on their promises and become more committed to helping the continent fight poverty and develop the economy.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda in the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko, Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan，July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) greets French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) greets European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso during a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda on the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan, July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article