members would discuss how to split the pie that was the globe. This has now changed, thanks to globalization and the incorporation of developing countries into the elite fold.

The 33rd G8 summit was held this year in Heiligendamm, the oldest seaside resort in Germany, on June 6-8, and featured five developing countries-China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa-in addition to the big eight. During the three-day meeting, participants discussed world affairs such as climate change, African development, the Doha Round talks of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the U.S. plan to deploy a missile defense shield in Central Europe.

G8: achievements and disappointments

German Chancellor Angela Merkel concluded the meeting as "successful," and said, "We are aware of our responsibilities, and our obligations will be fulfilled." The G8 leaders made a pledge to deliver aid to Africa and expressed concerns over regional security in the continent during the meeting.

The biggest achievement of the summit was perhaps the aid package of $60 billion promised by the G8 leaders to fight AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other killer diseases in Africa; half this sum was pledged by the United States, with Germany also announcing an offer of 4 billion euros (about $5.5 billion).

Meanwhile, the G8 leaders urged Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities, and to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In a statement issued at the conclusion of the three-day summit, the G8 said it was still committed to resolving the Iranian nuclear issue by diplomatic means. The G8 leaders also stressed their support for the six-party talks through which the international community is attempting to settle the nuclear dispute on the Korean Peninsula.

The Darfur issue was also a focus of the meeting. The leaders urged the Sudanese Government to accept an international peace mission designed to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region. They underlined that "there is no military solution" to the conflict in Darfur.

On the economic front, the leaders called for a prompt conclusion of the deadlocked Doha Round trade talks. "We call on all WTO members to demonstrate constructive flexibility in bringing these negotiations to a prompt successful conclusion," they said in a statement. Moreover, G8 leaders called for more efforts to adjust global imbalances in the world economy, although they appeared upbeat about the world economy. They also pledged to intensify anti-corruption efforts, both at national and international levels, terming the fight against corruption as one of the most important tasks of the G8.

Climate change was another important topic for this year's G8 summit, and there was some progress made during the meeting. The G8 leaders sealed a compromise on climate change, which Merkel described as a "real turning point." The leaders have agreed to "substantially" cut greenhouse gases in the fight against climate change.

In an effort to communicate with developing countries, the G8 summit held two outreach sessions, one with leaders from China, Brazil, Mexico, India and South Africa, known as the 8+5 meeting, and another with leaders from Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

Although some progress was made during the summit meeting, there were problems that remained unaddressed. International activists claimed to be frustrated by the inaction shown by the developed countries. Environmental organization Greenpeace said it was disappointed by the G8 agreement on climate change, declaring that the leaders had finally failed to agree on binding targets.

Germany, which presently holds the rotating G8 presidency, has called for actions to limit the rise in global temperature to two degrees Celsius this century, for which a global reduction in emissions of 50 percent below 1990 levels would be required by 2050, according to experts. However, the United States, the world's biggest greenhouse gas producer, voiced "fundamental opposition" to mandatory targets, making climate change one of the most controversial issues during the summit. International humanitarian societies were also worried about whether the pledge to emancipate Africa would ever be put into practice, given the fact that the G8 leaders agreed two years ago to raise development aid for the continent to the tune of $50 billion by 2010, but the aid has fallen woefully short thus far.

Apropos another contentious issue-the U.S. plan to erect a radar-based missile defense system in Central Europe-Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested to President Bush that Moscow would not oppose such a plan if the system was deployed in Azerbaijan instead of the Czech Republic and Poland. Bush's reply: "Interesting." This issue seems set to become another protracted bone of contention between the two powers.

The Chinese voice

Given China's rapid economic development, the country's stance on environmental protection and climate change has gained world focus in recent years. This is the fourth time that President Hu Jintao has attended the 8+5 outreach session of the G8 summit. On June 11 Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi concluded that Hu's presence at the session was pragmatic, effective and fruitful in promoting dialogue and deepening cooperation between China and various nations.

President Hu put forward proposals on South-South coordination to promote unity and cooperation between developing countries. He urged developing countries to strive to increase their say in the format, agenda and outcome of the dialogue and their representation in international economy, so as to establish a new global partnership for development based on equality, mutual benefit and a win-win model. Hu also suggested that developing countries adopt development strategies and policies in light of their national conditions and speed up economic development.

President Hu called on the international community to promote balanced and stable growth of the world economy. Imbalances in the global economy and growing uncertainty in the international financial market, Hu said, had increased risks in the world economy. As a result, members of the international community should bear common responsibilities and take the initiative to reduce such imbalances by expanding domestic demand, cutting fiscal deficit, speeding up structural adjustment and accelerating institutional reform. "Developed countries, on their part, should increase assistance, reduce and cancel debts, open markets and transfer more technologies to developing countries," he added.