Leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) nations should reach consensus and achieve substantial results at an upcoming summit over key issues of common concern, an Italian economist said.
At previous summits, the countries could hardly agree on a final statement due to concerns about their own interests, Romeo Orlandi, vice president of the Bologna-based think tank Osservatorio Asia, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
For example, he said, although most countries in Europe and Asia have approved the Kyoto Protocol, the United States has yet to adopt the UN-led global climate pact on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The G8 summit should act as a policy-making mechanism to respond to actual issues, including environment, energy and global economic growth, instead of "a show window that displays the charisma of the heads of state," Orlandi said.
He said G8 leaders should seek a common policy and strategy to face challenges in such fields as economy, environmental protection and energy security since those issues are closely interrelated with one another.
Amid the trend of globalization, all countries should launch concrete actions to reduce trade barriers and facilitate the circulation of personnel, capital and commodities, said the economist.
It is necessary for Western nations and developing counties to strengthen consultation and coordination to open their markets and increase imports and exports, Orlandi said.
He noted that China and other developing countries would participate in a dialog meeting with leaders of the developed nations.
Some non-G8 countries are playing a more and more important role in the world arena, said Orlandi, who is also a leading expert on China, adding that many developing nations are emerging as new economic entities.
China's participation is indispensable to major international affairs, he said, adding that the Asian country and other developing nations should exert their influence in tackling global issues.
If the G8, which is facing an opportunity for innovation, does not consider recruiting those countries which have potential for development, the summit will be reduced to a mere formality, said Orlandi.
The group needs to regularize and systematize its dialog meeting with developing nations, he said.
The G8, consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain and the United States, will hold a summit on July 7-9 at the Lake Toya (Toyako) resort area in Hokkaido, in northern Japan.
Emerging countries like China, India, Brazil and South Africa are also invited to this year's summit.
Source: Xinhua
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