The Heads of State and/or Government of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa held a meeting this afternoon in Berlin, Germany, at the invitation of Mexican President Felipe Calderón. The purpose of the meeting was to share perspectives and find convergences about the topics that they will discuss tomorrow in Heiligendamm during the outreach sessions of the G8 summit, as well as to exchange views on various significant international issues. The five countries also participated in the G8 Summits in Gleneagles (2005) and St Petersburg (2006).

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Hu Jintao of China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa reaffirmed their shared conviction that developing countries must participate more actively in the consolidation of strategies and initiatives that effectively address the challenges of a globalising and increasingly interdependent world. They agreed that their five countries, based on their undeniable political and economic strength, can make a decisive contribution to increase the participation of developing countries in this process.

Regarding the matters that will be discussed in Heiligendamm with the G8 countries, the leaders were pleased to note opportunities for joint collaboration in the fields of cross border investment, research and innovation, climate change, energy and development. The consensus view was that all of these challenges must be addressed from a multilateral, regional and bilateral perspective, taking into consideration the interests and capacities of the different States.

During their talks, the leaders also stated their ideas about certain topics of particular relevance to developing countries, such as global governance, international trade, bio-fuels, migration and South-South cooperation.

At the Berlin meeting, the Leaders shared views about the future of their participation in the Outreach Dialogue, and about the convenience of ensuring coordination and follow-up to the discussions among their five countries. They agree on having consultations on a regular basis on issues of common interest and to coordinate their positions. To this end they instructed their Foreign Ministers to meet on the margins of the next UN General Assembly.

The Heads of State and/or Government expressed their thanks to Chancellor Merkel for the invitation to participate at the G8 Heiligendamm Summit.

The leaders of the five countries have met before on the margins of the Gleneagles Summit at the invitation of President Mbeki of South Africa and the St. Petersburg Summit at the invitation of President Lula of Brazil.

Berlin
7 June, 2007

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