BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The July 9 dialogue between leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) and emerging economies will focus on the global downturn and work to boost cooperation between industrialized and developing countries, a senior Chinese diplomat said here Thursday.

    "We expect the 8+5 meeting will give a strong signal for further cooperation on tackling the financial crisis on the basis of the G20 summits," said vice Foreign Minister He Yafei at a briefing on President Hu Jintao's schedule.

    Mexican President Felipe Calderon, as a coordinator of the +5 (China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico), will chair the dialogue with G8 leaders in L'Aquila, central Italy.

    The summit will also discuss global challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, international trade and development issues.

    "We expect the meeting will help to raise concern on the impact of the global downturn on development issues and food security, especially in African countries," He said.

    The Doha round of talks of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will also be touched upon during the summit, He said, noting China is against trade protectionism.

    "The 8+5 meeting offers a platform for the industrialized and developing countries to exchange views on jointly withstanding the financial crisis," said Shen Jiru, researcher of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

    The +5 are also members of the Group of 20 (G20), so the 8+5 dialogue may act as a prelude to the G20 conference in Pittsburgh, the United States, in September, Shen said.

    Hu will also pay state visits to Italy and Portugal, said Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo.

    The success of the 11th China-EU summit reflected the good momentum of current China-EU ties, said Wu, stressing Hu's visits would further promote the sustained and healthy development of the ties.

    During the visits, Hu Jintao will meet his counterparts, government heads and parliament speakers in Italy and also in Portugal, said He.

    "As a real move to oppose trade protectionism, a group of some 200 Chinese businessmen will accompany President Hu's visit to Italy, to promote trade and investment," He said.

    Hu will also attend business forums in Italy and Portugal on the sidelines of the visits.