Informal South-North leaders dialogue meeting opens
( 2003-06-01 22:50 ) (8)

Leaders from 11 developing countries, including China, and the eight most powerful nations in the world opened an informal South-North dialogue meeting on Sunday in this French resort of Evian, with economic growth and international cooperation at the top of the agenda.

At the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac, whose country holds the rotating G8 presidency, Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the meeting and is scheduled to brief other world leaders on the Chinese situation and the policy of the Chinese government.

The closed-door meeting was expected to discuss the issues as how to promote the global economic growth, expand multi-lateral cooperation, uphold world diversity and propel the establishment of a new world economic order.

Heads of state or government of 11 developing countries plus Switzerland attended the meeting with leaders of the G8 countries to discuss how to ensure that globalization benefit all countries and not only rich ones.

The informal meeting also drew together UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and leaders of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization.

European Commission President Romano Prodi and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, also attended the meeting.

The meeting kicked off an afternoon devoted to an "enlarged dialogue" on growth and international cooperation with leaders from emerging economies like Brazil, China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, India and Malaysia.

The focus is to shift to Africa later in the day, with a dinner bringing together G8 leaders and the presidents of Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa for talks on the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

The Group of Eight comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. Enditem nnnn