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G8: Message of Greeting by Chancellor Merkel

Chancellor Merkel surrounded by young people

Berlin: Merkel with participants of the Junior8 Summit.
REGIERUNGonline/
Steins © BPA

The G8 Summit is always a global special event. This year's meeting of the world's most important heads of state and government will take place in a few days time in Heiligendamm. There we will have the unique chance to discuss with the leaders of the G8 and the key emerging countries the political answers to the urgent issues of our time.

During the first World Economic Summit in 1975 no-one used the term "globalization". Today, however, it is the focus of our talks. We know that globalization represents a major opportunity for growth, employment, prosperity and freedom – for all countries. Germany in particular, as an export-oriented nation, benefits to a large degree from globalization. We can and indeed must shape globalization, not only in our own countries but also at international level. The G8 is a valuable forum for this. That is why the German Government has given its G8 Presidency the motto of "Growth and Responsibility", because we want the G8 countries to assume their responsibility for global developments.

A new feature is that we seek to do this, to a much greater extent than hitherto, in dialogue with the important emerging countries, i.e. China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. Without the emerging nations progress, for example on climate protection, on the Doha Round or on improving intellectual-property protection, is unthinkable. The aim is to create a new cooperation between the G8 and the major emerging countries which will be continued beyond the Heiligendamm meeting.

We bear a great responsibility for shaping globalization in social terms. The Heiligendamm Summit is designed to send a strong signal in favour of complying with and proliferating social standards. Without adherence to minimum social and, by the way, ecological standards there will be no fair competition in the global economy.

Without any doubt climate protection is one of the most significant challenges facing humanity as a whole. We must clearly and swiftly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Germany therefore urgently calls for the further development of international climate-protection policy for the post-2012 period. It is thus vital that the G8 develop a shared understanding of how climate change can be effectively combated and of the international agreements which must be drawn up beyond 2012.

Finally, the G8 Summit will discuss the future of Africa. Alongside the global economic and climate-protection issues this will be the main focus at Heiligendamm. We as the G8 want to underline our support for those African countries which assume responsibility and advance reforms.

We Germans are aware of our responsibility in the world. Together with the heads of state and government of the G8 countries and the major emerging nations, we want to give globalization a human face. I would like Heiligendamm to send out a clear signal to that effect.

June 6, 2007

published in the Nordkurier newspaper

source www.G-8.de

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