Representatives participate in the G8 Development Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, April 5, 2008. Senior officials from the Group of Eight industrialised nations, along with representatives from some fast growing economies, gathered in Tokyo Saturday for a two-day meeting focusing on development issues in other parts of the world. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TOKYO, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Group of Eight (G8) member nations' ministers in charge of development issues convened here Saturday to talk about strengthening cooperation in helping African nations and other developing countries with more Official Development Assistance (ODA).

    At the opening ceremony, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura expressed his "deep regret" over the slide of ODA by donor countries in 2007, saying such a situation posed a grave challenge to continued assistance toward developing countries and menaced the realization of the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals and anti-global warming efforts.

    According to a report released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on Friday, total ODA donated by its 22 members was down by 8.4 percent in real terms to 103.66 billion U.S. dollars in 2007.

    Komura called on G8 members to show strong common resolution on reenforcing ODA for world prosperity. He also pledged that the Japanese government is determined to reverse its own ODA slide.

    During the two-day ministerial meeting, participants will discuss development issues related with the G8 summit slated for July in northern Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture, so as to collect and prepare useful information for the summit.

    The G8 groups Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan and Russia.

    The meeting is one of a series of special ministerial meetings in the run-up to the summit.

    Rising donors such as China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Malaysia, and international organizations such as the European Commission, the World Health Organization and the World Bank sent representatives to attend outreach sessions.

    Two sessions, respectively centering on topics of expanding cooperation with rising donors and tackling climate change, were held on Saturday afternoon. Another outreach session focusing on health, education, and sanitation issues will be held on Sunday.