Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 -- English Window to China News

LEADERS of the G8 talked with African heads of state at a luxury hotel yesterday as activists accused the rich nations' club of going back on pledges to double aid to the world's poorest continent.

The issue of African poverty that tops the agenda at the start of a three-day summit in Japan is closely linked with rising food and fuel prices.

Seven African leaders were invited to join the opening day of the annual summit on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The G8 group - the United States, Japan, France, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy and Russia - met leaders of Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

In 2005 in Gleneagles, Scotland, the G8 agreed to double aid by 2010 to US$50 billion, half of which would go to Africa. But a report last month by the Africa Progress Panel, which was set up to monitor the Gleneagles commitments, said that the G8 will fall US$40 billion short of its target.

"There are good plans being developed. We also know when efforts are made, great results can be achieved. But the problem is these plans are not being backed by serious financing," said Oliver Buston, a spokesman for activist group ONE.

Poverty goals

"It's as if the G8 has built a car but they have not put any fuel in it. It's time for that to change."

This year marks the halfway point to reach eight Millennium Development Goals set by the UN General Assembly in September 2000 to reduce world poverty by 2015.

Japanese Foreign Ministry press spokesman Kazuo Kodama acknowledged on Sunday that Africa was well behind target on health, but added: "G8 leaders will certainly deliver a strong and concrete message to help African countries to achieve the goals."

With grain prices having doubled since January 2006, Africa needs more help, not less, activists say.

A preliminary World Bank study released last week estimated that up to 105 million more people could drop below the poverty line due to rising food prices, including 30 million in Africa.

Many critics and even member countries suggest the G8, formed in 1975 with just six members in the wake of the first oil crisis, should expand to take in large developing nations to better represent the world.

Anti-G8 protests have become a regular part of the annual event, and yesterday hundreds of demonstrators from Japan and other countries marched in heavy rain toward the summit venue, carrying signs slamming the group.

Heavy security meant that they were kept several kilometers away. One group tried to take an unauthorized route but was turned back by dozens of police carrying shields and shouting: "Go back, go back."

Global warming will be the focus of an expanded meeting on Wednesday that will include China and India.

Deep gaps within the G8 as well as between rich and poor nations have raised doubts about the chances for progress beyond last year's summit, where the G8 agreed to "seriously consider" a global goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.