(From L to R) Republic of the Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Mexican President Vicente Fox Quesada and South African President Thabo Mbeki pose for a group photo at the leader's meeting of the six developing countries in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 16, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

    Special Report: G8 meets in Russia, Hu attends session

    ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, the Republic of Congo and India held a group meeting here Sunday to discuss the strengthening of cooperation among developing countries.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao, who arrived here earlier Sunday to attend the outreach session of the G-8 Summit scheduled for July 17, said during the group meeting that the surging economic globalization and advances in science and technology in the world today have brought about rare opportunities of development for every country around the world.

    At the same time, however, no country, especially those in the developing world, is immune from grave challenges, said Hu, noting that the gap between the North and the South is widening, and world economic development is more uneven.

    Against the backdrop of both opportunities and challenges, said Hu, to strengthen cooperation among developing countries, "we need to focus on the present and adopt a strategic and long-term perspective."

    He put forward the following three-point proposals.

    The first is to fulfill commitments and advance international development cooperation.

    The second is to enhance cooperation and work for the successful conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations.

    The third is to be pioneering and innovative and deepen South-South cooperation.

    On Africa's development, Hu stressed that the international community should pay more attention to African stability and development, and as members of the developing world, they should and can assist African countries in one way or another.

    He said in the coming November, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will hold its summit and the third ministerial conference in Beijing and China will continue to work with African countries to make it a gathering that highlights solidarity and practical cooperation.

    Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Mexican President Vicente Fox, South African President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou-Nguesso and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also talked about global energy security, prevention and control of communicable diseases, education and Africa's development.

    They said they will seek proper settlement of above-mentioned issues through strengthening South-South and South-North cooperation.

    They also discussed the Doha Round negotiations and emphasized that the priority of development and more attention to concerns of developing countries should be paid during the negotiations so as to achieve a package of results that are balanced and can play a concrete role in promoting world economy.

    It is learned that the agenda of tomorrow's G-8 outreach session will include global energy security, prevention and control of communicable diseases, education, and Africa's development. Enditem