The discussion between finance ministers of the Group of Eight (G8) major economic powers and six other countries laid the groundwork for the upcoming top-level meeting of the G8 and some developing countries, China's top financial official said on Saturday.

Russia is chairing the G8 presidency this year and will host a summit of G8 leaders in St. Petersburg in mid-July.

Chinese Finance Minister Jin Renqing was joined by top financial officials from India, Brazil, Australia, South Korea and Nigeria at the discussion Saturday with G8 finance ministers, who gathered in St. Petersburg of Russia for a two-day meeting that focused on global economic growth and energy security.

The ministers had an extensive dialogue on global economic prospects and discussed in detail ways to improve public finance management and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Jin said.

The finance ministers of China, Brazil and India also met in St. Petersburg to discuss ways to enhance dialogue between developing countries and the G8 or G7, Jin said.

Earlier in the day, Jin met finance ministers of Germany and Nigeria respectively to discuss bilateral economic and financial cooperation.

These financial discussions were all part of China's global economic diplomacy and global strategy, Jin said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2006)