Politics
G8 to focus on green and other new issues
Updated: 2011-05-25 19:33
By Zhang Chunyan and Zhang Haizhou (chinadaily.com.cn)
LONDON / DEAUVILLE, France — The G8 Summit will take a new direction by focusing on the Internet, green growth and nuclear safety issues.
France, which will chair the G8 Summit on Thursday and Friday in Deauville, recommends that the "new G8" focuses on issues where its members can have a genuine impact, avoiding duplication of the G20 agenda.
According to its plan, the Internet, green growth, a sustainable economy, and nuclear safety will be the major issues of the G8 summit.
In fact, "the new issues are very closely related to traditional issues", said Richard Caplan, director of the Center for International Studies at Oxford University.
For instance, Caplan noted, reviving the global economy is a major concern but there is growing recognition of the importance of green growth as part of a revival strategy, because it is more sustainable environmentally and it creates opportunities for business expansion and job creation.
The nuclear crisis in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami in March is also due for discussion.
At the summit, Russia will propose a plan to boost safety at the world's nuclear power plants.
"The focus on these issues suggests the forward thinking by a group of leaders that recognize the centrality of these issues today," said Leslie Vinjamuri, co-director of Center for the International Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice, from the School of Oriental And African Studies, University of London.
She added: "The Internet has proven to be an extraordinary force, both positive and negative."
Analysts also noted that the situation in the Arab world is likely to feature heavily at the G8 meeting.
There will be a significant effort made at the G8 to ensure a serious commitment to giving aid to Tunisia and Egypt and especially to designing mechanisms that pave the way for more private investment in these countries, Vinjamuri said.
The leaders of Egypt and Tunisia, as well as the head of the World Bank, the United Nations secretary-general and representatives of the International Monetary Fund are due to attend the talks.
Created as part of a French initiative to address the oil crisis in 1975, the G8 is an informal group of developed economies, which meets annually at a summit of heads of state and government.
Over the past more than 30 years, it has focused mainly on the economy, development, peace and security, the environment and climate change.
E-paper
![](../../attachement/jpg/site241/20110520/bc305b9c61310f403d1028.jpg)
Thawing out
After a deep freeze in sales during the recession, China’s air conditioner makers are bouncing back
Cool Iron lady
Of good and evil
Build on security initiatives
Specials
![](../../attachement/jpg/site241/20110520/bc305ba24a510f405cb544.jpg)
Memory lanes
Shanghai’s historic ALLEYS not just unique architecture but a way of life
![](../../attachement/jpg/site241/20110520/bc305ba24a510f4060f14d.jpg)
Great expectations
Hong Kong-born singer songwriter rises to the top of the UK pops.
![](../../attachement/jpg/site241/20110520/bc305b9c61310f403d482f.jpg)
A diplomat of character
Belgian envoy draws on personal fascination to help build China ties.