JAPAN: Leaders of G5 say they will demand international reform to solve the food and energy crisis

Record ID: 465121

  • Title: JAPAN: Leaders of G5 say they will demand international reform to solve the food and energy crisis
  • Date: 8th July 2008
  • Summary: (W3) SAPPORO, JAPAN (JULY 8, 2008) (REUTERS) G5 NATIONS LEADERS ARRIVING IN CONFERENCE HALL G5 LEADERS SITTING DOWN PAN SHOT FROM INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH, CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO, MEXICO PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LULA DA SILVA TO SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, FELIPE CALDERON, SAYING: "The North-South summit and the collaboration among our people and among the rich makes the mechanism of the G5 invaluable. We are hoping to find solutions to our problems in such a way that we will be able to provide international reform that will improve the capability of our countries to confront developing risks." CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, FELIPE CALDERON, SAYING: "We agreed that it is important that we should not be blaming the developing economies for these problems. We concluded that greater participation in the international community and the existing international financial organisations will help us analyse and present solutions." G5 LEADERS SHAKING HANDS
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVATR23OYLSVYUCYGP5BSDTV97L
  • Story Text: The Group of Five (G5) nations made up of Brazil, Mexico, China, India and South Africa, meet on the sidelines of the Group of Eight (G8) summit in northern Japan.
    Leaders of Brazil, Mexico, China, India and South Africa met in a Sapporo hotel on Tuesday (July 8) ahead of their meeting with the Group of Eight (G8) leaders on Wednesday (July 9).
    The five, also called the Group of Five, discussed issues from soaring food and fuel prices to African poverty and global warming.
    South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk rejected a G8 statement on climate change earlier on Tuesday (July 8) that set a 'vision' but no firm targets to achieve big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
    Van Schalkwyk said a long-term goal "must be underpinned by ambitious mid-term targets and action," adding that the goals should be "based on an equitable burden-sharing paradigm".
    The G8 leaders agreed on a communiqué on Tuesday (July 8), which said they would work with nearly 200 states in the United Nations climate change talks to adopt a goal of at least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
    The communiqué also said mid-term goals would be needed to achieve the mission.
    The European Union and Japan have been pressing for a G8 statement that goes beyond a summit pledge made last year to "seriously consider" a goal of halving global carbon emissions by mid-century and refers to the need for interim targets as well.
    In sharp contrast to previous gatherings, this year's summit, in a remote corner of Japan amid rolling hills, has seen only a couple of thousand protesters gather, who are outnumbered by police by 10 to one.
    About 100 anti-summit protesters marched through the streets of Sapporo, the capital of Japan's Northernmost island of Hokkaido where the G8 meetings are being held.
    The protesters, wearing helmets with "anti-war" written on them, chanted their slogans criticising not only G8 countries but also China.
    But the peaceful march attracted far fewer demonstrators than the weekend protests, when almost 2,000 people marched though the streets and four men were arrested.
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