G8 nations, emerging donors start development talks

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — Development ministers from the richest nations as well as those of the fastest growing economies gathered here Saturday to discuss ways to ease suffering in Africa and other impoverished nations.

Officials from the Group of Eight industrialised nations, along with Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa are to discuss over two days how to bolster their efforts in foreign development aid.

Angel Gurria, secretary general of Paris-based think-tank the OECD, said world powers must not allow the gloomy global economic outlook to distract them from fighting poverty because the global consequences would be dire.

"We cannot let the international and domestic economic concerns deter us from meeting our development...