Blair flies out for G8 summit in Moscow

Published on Friday 14 July 2006 12:26

PRIME Minister Tony Blair flies to Russia tomorrow for a G8 summit set to be dominated by talks on energy and world trade.

Africa and education will also feature on the agenda, along with the continuing fight against infectious diseases HIV and Aids.

Mr Blair will make a presentation to fellow leaders on Monday on the progress on Africa since last year's Gleneagles G8, which he hosted.

Along with the G8 countries - the UK, US, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Russia - other nations such as India, China, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil will be represented at the St Petersburg gathering.

It is the first time Russia has hosted the summit after joining the group of the world's leading industrialised democracies.

The now ritual anti-globalisation protests are also expected, with more than 1000 demonstrators reported to be preparing to make their voices heard at the three-day summit, though they will be kept miles away from the leaders.

Russia's chosen themes for the gathering are global energy security, education and the fight against infectious diseases.

But Downing Street said they also expected the stalled development round World Trade Organisation talks to feature prominently.