G8 to host African leaders at special lunch

ECONOMIC development, disease and security will be the focus of discussions tomorrow at a special working luncheon for South African president Thabo Mbeki and five other African leaders at the Group of Eight (G8) summit, currently underway in the United States.

US President George W Bush is hosting the 2004 meeting of the G8 – being held on Sea Island, off the coast of Georgia. The lunch invite, issued by Bush to Mbeki and the leaders of Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda, will provide an opportunity for informal talks with the heads of the eight major industrial democracies on matters affecting the continent.According to the summit programme, the discussions will focus on “how they can co-operate to accelerate private sector-led growth and development in Africa”.The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.The theme for this year’s three-day summit, which started Monday is “Freedom, Prosperity and Security”.South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs says discussions at the lunch will be about the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad); Aids; communicable diseases; peace and security; private sector-led growth and poverty alleviation.Over the past few years, it has become customary for chairpersons of the G8 to invite African leaders for a working luncheon discussion, with a view to sharing ideas on advancing the economic revival programme on the continent.-Nampa-SapaThe lunch invite, issued by Bush to Mbeki and the leaders of Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda, will provide an opportunity for informal talks with the heads of the eight major industrial democracies on matters affecting the continent.According to the summit programme, the discussions will focus on “how they can co-operate to accelerate private sector-led growth and development in Africa”.The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.The theme for this year’s three-day summit, which started Monday is “Freedom, Prosperity and Security”.South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs says discussions at the lunch will be about the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad); Aids; communicable diseases; peace and security; private sector-led growth and poverty alleviation.Over the past few years, it has become customary for chairpersons of the G8 to invite African leaders for a working luncheon discussion, with a view to sharing ideas on advancing the economic revival programme on the continent.-Nampa-Sapa