Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Statement on Departure for the G8 Summit

New Delhi, July 6, 2005

I am visiting the United Kingdom to participate in the Outreach Session of the G8 Summit at Gleneagles on July 7. The United Kingdom, which is the host of this Summit, has also extended invitations to Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa to participate in the Outreach Session.

The discussions are expected to focus mainly on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, issues of contemporary and pressing importance. We welcome the initiative of Prime Minister Blair to engage in purposeful discussions between the industrialized countries, represented in the G8, and major emerging economies. It is our expectation that the Gleneagles Summit will provide an opportunity to consider additional practical measures focusing on clean and affordable technologies to address climate change issues, based on a true partnership between developed and developing countries for ensuring the larger common good.

Key countries in the ongoing Doha Multilateral Trade Negotiations will also be present in Gleneagles. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the global economic situation and to review progress in the Doha Work Programme, including preparations for the forthcoming Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong later this year.

I look forward to meeting world leaders present at Gleneagles. Bilateral meetings on the Summit sidelines with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom and President Chirac of France, are also planned.

While in the United Kingdom, I will visit Oxford to receive an Honorary Doctorate that the University has been good enough to confer on me. In London, I hope to meet Friends of India Groups from the three main Political Parties in the British Parliament. I will attend Ceremonies to mark the 75th anniversary of the opening of India House.

Source: Prime Minister of India's Website

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