G8, was set up in 1975 as a forum for the world's most industrialized nations. Its members include Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan,
Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The presidency rotates amongst the members.
Italian
Premier Silvio Berlusconi plans to step up the
involvement of G5 and other important non-G8 countries during his
presidency of G8. The eight G8 members will meet on the first day of talks and
the G5 (China, India, Brazil,
Mexico and South Africa) as well as Egypt will be
brought in on the second day.. The third day will see
the involvement of Australia,
Indonesia
and major African countries.
Italy Takes over
G8 Presidency
China View January 2, 2008
ROME, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Italy took over the
rotating presidency of G8 (Group of Eight major industrialized countries) from
Japan on Thursday, which will last through the year 2009.Italy plans to step up
the involvement of G5 and other important non-G8 countries during its
presidency of G8, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi
said at the presentation of the Italian logo for its G8 term last month. The
eight G8 members will meet on the first day of talks and the G5 (China, India,
Brazil, Mexico and South
Africa) as well as Egypt will be brought in on the
second day, he said. The third day will see the involvement of Australia, Indonesia and major African
countries, the premier added. Italy
has pressed hard for an Egyptian role because of Egypt's status in the Middle East and Africa
where it is "widely heard," Berlusconi said. Italy's presidency of G8 will be an occasion for "a
new global governance" and to create a more structural relationship
between G8 countries and emerging powers, according to Italian Foreign Minister
Franco Frattini. Frattini
said terrorism, nuclear disarmament and the situations
in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Africa
would be on the political agenda, while economic issues to be given priority
are reforms to the Bretton Woods system of monetary
management, the development of renewable energy sources, the impact of climate
change on the economy and food safety. The G8, originally the G6, was set up in
1975 as a forum for the world's most
industrialized nations. Its members include Canada,
France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Russia, the United
Kingdom and the United States. During the Italian
presidency, the G8 summit will take place in July in La Maddalena,
an island off the northern coast of Sardinia.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/02/content_10589557.htm