Leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) wealthiest industrial
powers, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and
the United States, kicked off their annual summit on Wednesday in
the northern German Baltic resort of Heiligendamm.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, currently fulfilling her duties
as G8 president, hosted her fellow world leaders at a dinner in a
14th-century palace on the Hohen Luckow estate, some 25 km
south-east of the summit venue in Heiligendamm.
The three-day summit should see the 8 delegations' discussions
revolve around the issues on climate change, African development,
restarting Doha Round of the World Trade Organization, with perhaps
the most controversial issue being the long-planned U.S. missile
defense shield in Central Europe which has met with stern
objections from Russia.
The talks may also broach the volatility in the Middle East,
specifically Iran's nuclear program.
Aside from their own talks, the G8 leaders will also conduct two
outreach sessions, the first with five major developing countries
-- Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, and the other
with representatives from African countries -- Algeria, Ethiopia,
Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.
(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2007)