Toyako,The three-day summit of the Group of Eight (G8) most industrialised countries kicked off Monday with the first session between leaders of the group and their counterparts from seven African countries.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is playing host for the G8 gathering, greeted other leaders of the bloc and the African leaders at the start of a working lunch which began at 12.30 p.m. at this resort town by the Toya lake in the northern island of Hokkaido.

The lunch will be followed by a working session between the leaders of the G8 and seven African nations and the events are joined by leaders from the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations.

The Toyako summit would focus on, among other issues, climate change, the world economy and African development.

The presidents of Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania and Ethiopia are expected to talk with leaders from Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Russia and the United States on aid to Africa and other issues.

Many African countries have urged developed countries, the G8 nations in particular, to live up to their promises and commit themselves to helping the continent fight poverty and develop the economy.

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