British Prime Minister Tony Blair closes the G-8 economic summit in Britain on July 8.

Leaders signaled support for new deals on trade, canceled the debt of some of the world's poorest nations, pledged universal access to AIDS treatment, committed to a peacekeeping force in Africa and heard African leaders promise to move toward democracies that follow the rule of law.

Blair also announced an aid deal of up to $3 billion for the Palestinian Authority over coming years that he said would allow "two states, Israel and Palestine, two peoples and two religions to live side by side in peace."

G-8 leaders agreed to begin a new dialogue on climate change with emerging economies, including China and India. The first meeting is to be held in Britain on Nov. 1, but Blair said the United States must join the campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if emerging giants are also expected to participate.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 16, 2005
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