Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with US President George W. Bush in a greeting ceremony hosted by Fukuda in the first official day of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, at Lake Toyoko, Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan，July 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

The three-day summit of the Group of Eight (G8) kicked off on Monday with the first session between leaders of the industrialized nations and their counterparts from seven African countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is playing host for the G8 gathering, greeted other G8 leaders and the African leaders at the start of a working lunch which began at 12:30 local time at a lakeside resort of Toyako on the northern island of Hokkaido.

 The lunch will be followed by a working session between the leaders of the G8 and seven African nations and the events are joined by leaders from the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations.

The Toyako summit would focus on, among other issues, climate change, the world economy and African development.

The presidents of Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia are expected to talk with leaders from Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Russia and the United States on aid to Africa and other issues in the afternoon.

Many African countries have urged developed countries, the G8 nations in particular, to make good on their promises and become more committed to helping the continent fight poverty and develop the economy.