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Economy looms as key issue for G8 Economy looms as key issue for G8
(about 1 hour later)
World leaders are preparing to begin a key summit in Japan, with the global economy and its rising food and fuel costs looming as the main issues.World leaders are preparing to begin a key summit in Japan, with the global economy and its rising food and fuel costs looming as the main issues.
The Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations will be joined by China, India, Brazil and South Africa, among others.The Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations will be joined by China, India, Brazil and South Africa, among others.
Ahead of the talks, US President George W Bush and Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda urged action on soaring oil and food costs and more help for Africa. Ahead of the talks, US President George W Bush and Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda urged action on soaring oil and food costs and more help for Africa's poor.
The G8 summit is being held at a resort on the northern island of Hokkaido.The G8 summit is being held at a resort on the northern island of Hokkaido.
Japan has spent a record sum of money and deployed about 20,000 police to seal off the remote lakeside town of Toyako before the three days of talks start on Monday. Japan has spent a record sum of money and deployed about 20,000 police to seal off the remote lakeside town of Toyako before the three days of talks starting on Monday.
Zimbabwe concernZimbabwe concern
The summit gets under way with an opening lunch, where African leaders will tell the G8 that the escalating costs of fuel and food have worsened the plight of the world's poorest people.The summit gets under way with an opening lunch, where African leaders will tell the G8 that the escalating costs of fuel and food have worsened the plight of the world's poorest people.
href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7492089.stm">Japanese island locks down class="" href="/1/hi/business/7489312.stm">Focus on food, fuel and finance href="/1/hi/world/africa/7489993.stm">G8 summit: The key issues Focus on food, fuel and finance href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7492089.stm">Japanese island locks down
Japan's original idea was to make climate change the focus of this year's summit, and harden up last year's G8 pledge to give serious consideration to halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall in Hokkaido.Japan's original idea was to make climate change the focus of this year's summit, and harden up last year's G8 pledge to give serious consideration to halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall in Hokkaido.
But the impact on the global economy of price rises and other shocks such as the credit crunch have already eclipsed that concern, our correspondent says.But the impact on the global economy of price rises and other shocks such as the credit crunch have already eclipsed that concern, our correspondent says.
The Group of Eight consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.The Group of Eight consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
They will be joined by leaders from some 15 other countries, including eight African states.They will be joined by leaders from some 15 other countries, including eight African states.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Why not talk about stopping the wars in the world, as most of the G8 countries manufacture and supply the weapons Geoff Berry, Bolton, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5070&edition=1&ttl=20080706053941">Send us your comments The best way to help the impoverished around the world is through trade US President George W Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7489993.stm">G8 summit: The key issues class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7490775.stm">Action urged on childbirth deaths
As well as discussing development issues in Africa, the G8 leaders are widely expected to condemn Robert Mugabe's controversial re-election in Zimbabwe last month.As well as discussing development issues in Africa, the G8 leaders are widely expected to condemn Robert Mugabe's controversial re-election in Zimbabwe last month.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Fukuda on Sunday, Mr Bush acknowledged that the US economy was not as robust as he would like.Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Fukuda on Sunday, Mr Bush acknowledged that the US economy was not as robust as he would like.
Mr Fukuda said he and Mr Bush had agreed that there was "a need for swift efforts" to tackle surging oil and food prices that are "having a negative impact on the world economy".Mr Fukuda said he and Mr Bush had agreed that there was "a need for swift efforts" to tackle surging oil and food prices that are "having a negative impact on the world economy".
Mr Bush also reiterated his desire to see new oil production in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve in Alaska and off the US coast.Mr Bush also reiterated his desire to see new oil production in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve in Alaska and off the US coast.
Heavily policed 'Grinding poverty'
Meanwhile, Pope Benedict in Rome appealed to world leaders to focus on the needs of the world's poorest and most vulnerable. A number of other bilateral meetings are taking place on the sidelines of the summit.
Protesters wearing masks of the G8 leaders demonstrated in Sapporo Mr Bush, attending his last G8 summit, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, attending his first, are expected to discuss the US plan for missile defence installations in the Czech Republic and Poland.
In a statement, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed that call, saying he expected the G8 summit to result in "concrete action" to lift people from "the most grinding poverty". class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Why not talk about stopping the wars in the world, as most of the G8 countries manufacture and supply the weapons Geoff Berry, Bolton, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5070&edition=1&ttl=20080706053941">Send us your comments
He said the world's richest nations had a responsibility to fulfil the development goals they had set themselves at the turn of the millennium. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will also have talks with Mr Medvedev.
Hundreds of protesters again marched through Sapporo, the city closest to the venue, on the eve of the talks to demand G8 leaders take action on global warming, poverty and rising food prices. Relations between the two countries have been uneasy since the Russian agent turned dissident Alexander Litvinenko was murdered in London two years ago.
Mr Brown said he expected the summit to result in "concrete action" to lift people from "the most grinding poverty".
Meanwhile, the charity Water Aid has told the G8 that the single most effective measure it could take to prevent the deaths of millions of children in poor countries would be to build toilets and provide clean water.
Hundreds of protesters again marched through Sapporo on Sunday, the city closest to the venue, on the eve of the talks to demand G8 leaders take action on global warming, poverty and rising food prices.
The demonstration, which followed a similar protest on Saturday, was heavily policed and ended peacefully.The demonstration, which followed a similar protest on Saturday, was heavily policed and ended peacefully.
Violent anti-globalisation marches have marred past G8 meetings.Violent anti-globalisation marches have marred past G8 meetings.
With the G8 gathering in Japan, leaders of the world's largest Islamic nations have assembled for what is being billed as the D8 summit in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. As the G8 got under way in Japan, leaders of the world's largest Islamic nations assembled for what is being billed as the D8 summit in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The issue of inflation is also on the agenda there, although with oil producers Iran and Nigeria present, discussing oil is proving problematic, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur.The issue of inflation is also on the agenda there, although with oil producers Iran and Nigeria present, discussing oil is proving problematic, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur.