G-8 calls for global partnership into 21st century

By Kohei Murayama - NAGO, Japan, July 23 Kyodo - Leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) countries agreed Sunday to build a partnership with other nations and organizations to ''maximize the benefits of globalization for all'' in the 21st century amid global integration propelled by innovations in information technology (IT).


''In a world of ever-intensifying globalization, whose challenges are becoming increasingly complex, the G-8 must reach out,'' the leaders said in a joint communique issued to wrap up their three-day summit in this northern Okinawa city.


The leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States said they ''must engage in a new partnership with non-G-8 countries, particularly developing countries, international organizations and civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations.''


''This partnership will bring the opportunities of the new century within reach of all,'' they said in calling for cooperation to ''move forward together, with hope, toward a 21st century of greater prosperity, deeper peace of mind and greater stability.''


Against this backdrop, the leaders stressed the ''indispensable'' need to realize U.N. reforms, with the world body's Millennium Summit expected to contribute to such discussions.


Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, speaking at a press conference as chairman of the summit, said it is ''clear that the G-8 alone cannot tackle the pile of problems ahead.''


The communique lists challenges and specific measures in a broad range of categories, such as information technology (IT), infectious diseases, trade, cross-border crimes, drug trafficking, the aging of society, food safety, the environment, the human genome, conflict prevention, disarmament and nonproliferation.


The G-8 leaders have already issued three documents over the past two days on two major issues -- rapidly advancing innovations in information technology (IT) and regional security.


On the second day, they launched the ''Okinawa Charter on Global Information Society'' endorsing the so-called IT revolution for the first time and setting up a task force to hammer out measures to help bridge the ''digital divide'' between rich and poor countries.


The leaders on the first day issued two statements on regional matters, underscoring their commitment to supporting inter-Korean dialogue and the Middle East peace process as well as pressing India and Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) on nuclear weapons.


In the communique, the leaders said the world economy is expected to post strong growth this year, with the Asian economy continuing to recover.


Given advancing globalization and IT-led structural changes, the leaders reaffirmed their ''unwavering commitments to structural change in our own economies, including greater competition and more adaptable labor markets, underpinned by appropriate macroeconomic policies.''


On trade, the G-8 leaders agreed to step up cooperation to ''try together with the World Trade Organization members'' to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations ''during the course of this year.''


The communique sets 2010 as a target date for dealing with infectious diseases -- reducing the number of AIDS and HIV cases in the 15-24 age bracket by 25%, halving tuberculosis deaths and prevalence and lowering the burden of disease associated with malaria by 50%.


Also included is a meeting this fall in Japan to work out priority areas and a timetable for action on infectious diseases and to build up a partnership with developing nations, international institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private concerns to treat and prevent infectious diseases.


But the G-8 leaders fell short of agreeing on a $100 million fund proposed by Japan to facilitate NGO activities.


On food safety linked to genetically modified products, the leaders took note of a proposed establishment of a new independent panel, while stressing the need for ''open and transparent'' consultations among all parties concerned.


But the G-8 failed to launch any new initiative in controlling genetically modified food because disputes remained over what French President Jacques Chirac described as ''two schools of thought'' -- with the U.S. and Canada reluctant to pursue the quick action favored by Europe and Japan.


The communique calls for tightening international regulations on drug trafficking, and endorses an ad hoc meeting of experts later this year to address the growing threat from amphetamines and other synthetic drugs.


The leaders stressed the need to fight cyber crimes and welcomed Japan's offer to host a conference early next year of government and industry representatives.


They also called for measures to encourage senior citizens to take part in social activities, and endorsed a 2015 target for universal primary education worldwide and a 2005 goal for gender equality in education.


On debt relief, the G-8 leaders vowed to step up their undertaking so that 20 countries will gain eligibility by the end of this year for a 100% debt cancellation initiative hammered out for heavily indebted poor countries at the previous summit held in June last year in Cologne, Germany. Seven countries are already eligible.


The communique did not include the issue of Russia's debt relief, and a Japanese official said Russian President Vladimir Putin did not raise it during the summit.


The G-8 leaders also highlighted their commitment to an ''early entry into force of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions and achieving a successful sixth Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change'' scheduled for November in The Hague, the Netherlands, the officials said.


But they failed to set a target date for implementing the Kyoto Protocol, which legally obliges developed countries to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by an average of 5.2% from 1990 levels by between 2008 and 2012.


On political issues, the G-8 leaders endorsed a comprehensive strategy on conflict prevention formulated by their foreign ministers last week, and proposed holding an international meeting to consider ''practical approaches'' to stopping illicit trade of diamonds in a bid to stem funds for purchasing weapons in conflict-torn Africa.


The communique draws commitments from Russia and the U.S. to quickly implement the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) 2 and conclude START 3, while ''preserving and strengthening'' the 1972 Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems.


The G-8 leaders accepted Italy's invitation to host the next summit in Genoa, and agreed to establish an electronic-mail network to enhance communications among themselves.
==Kyodo


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