The members of the G8 summit met the Presidents of Algeria, Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria, Salvador and South Africa and the heads of major international institutions – the World Health Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation – to discuss the fight against poverty in developing countries.
The Russian President suggested that those gathered discuss the response to the clashes between demonstrators and the police in the streets of Genoa, in which one person died. The disturbances provoked by anti-globalists took place on the eve of the summit. Mr Putin’s proposal was backed by the summit participants.
After the meeting Italian President Carlo Champi gave a working lunch for the leaders of the G8 countries.
At the end of the first day of the summit the Russian and Italian Presidents had a separate short talk behind closed doors.