Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that his government has invited the leaders of seven African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa) as well as Haiti, Jamaica, Columbia and Vietnam to the G8 meeting in Muskoka from June 25-26.

“We will be engaging African leaders as well as key hemispheric partners in order to broaden representation and maximize results on international development and peace and security issues," said Harper.

Earlier in May Harper announced that Canada has extended G-20 invitations to the leaders of Ethiopia, Malawi, The Netherlands, Spain and Vietnam which will be held in Toronto from June 26-27, alongside the G-20 leaders and the heads of all the major international finance and trade institutions.

“G-20 leaders have important work to do when we meet in Toronto in June and participation by these countries will bring valuable perspective to that task,” he added.

“In Toronto, we need to meet our past commitments to ensure recovery of the global economy and restore jobs around the world. As a group representing major economies, the G-20 also has a responsibility to usher in a new era of economic cooperation — one that will result in stronger, more balanced and sustainable global growth.”

The meeting of G8 leaders in Muskoka will focus on urgent development and peace and security challenges, ahead of the G-20 Summit in Toronto. The theme for both summits is “Recovery and New Beginnings.”

Sources:

• Reuters
• Prime Minister of Canada