OTTAWA, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Canada will host the foreign ministers meeting of the G8 countries in March 2010 to prepare for a G8 summit later that year, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon announced Friday.

    The meeting will be held on March 29-30 in the city of Gatineau, which is located on the opposite side of the Ottawa River overlooking capital Ottawa and belongs to Quebec province, Cannon announced at a press conference in Gatineau.

    "During the meeting, the ministers will discuss the major issues that threaten international peace and security, while continuing to promote respect for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law," the Foreign Affairs Department said in a press release.

    In June 2010, Canada will host the G8 summit in the Muskoka region of central Ontario and also co-host a G20 summit there with South Korea.

    G8 groups Canada, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia Germany, Japan and Italy. Representatives of the European Union will also be present at the meetings.