Chinese president attends G8 outreach session

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-09 10:06

TOYAKO, Japan -- An outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) convened in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako Wednesday and Chinese President Hu Jintao was present at the meeting with other leaders.

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and China's President Hu Jintao look at India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L-R) during a family photo on the sidelines of te G8 Summit in Sapporo, Japan, July 8, 2008. [Agencies]

The leaders will discuss the pressing issues facing the world today, such as the world economy, climate change, and energy security.

The outreach session of the G8 summit was convened at the Windsor Hotel, and attended by leaders of the G8, which comprises of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States, and leaders from five major developing nations-China, Brazil, India, South Africa and Mexico.

Later in the day, President Hu will participate in the Major Economies Meeting on energy security and climate change. Japan has invited Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa for the meeting with leaders of G8 members.

The Chinese president arrived in Japan Monday and is scheduled to return home later Wednesday.

On the sidelines of the G8 outreach session, President Hu will meet other leaders attending the G8 meeting to exchange views on bilateral ties and the world issues of mutual concern.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on June 30 that President George W. Bush was looking forward to meeting President Hu during the G8 outreach session and exchange views on US-China relations and important world and regional issues.