The Toyako, Hokkaido, summit witnessed moves to expand the Group of Eight forum of leading industrial nations through the addition of China, India and other new members.
In a sense, of course, the G8 has already expanded, as seen in the meetings with African leaders and the gathering of major greenhouse gas emitters, including China and India, held alongside the summit. Whether the issue is CO・emissions, Africa or international finance, there is a growing chorus of voices insisting that no effective measures can be taken to address global issues unless international action includes China and India, as well as the countries of Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Some have called for the G8 to be turned into a G-13.
Among some American intellectuals, meanwhile, there have recently been murmurings about a "G3." This concept envisages the United States and China teaming up with the European Union to build a new global trade and economic order. It is based on the thinking that, as China will eventually become the world's largest economy, we must encourage it to develop into a nation that takes more responsibility for the formation of and respect for a global economic order.