OBIHIRO, Hokkaido (Kyodo) Water and sanitation experts from the Group of Eight countries gathered Tuesday in Hokkaido to discuss ways to ensure safe drinking water in African and other developing countries.
During the two-day G8 Experts Group Meeting on Water and Sanitation in Obihiro, chair country Japan hopes to lead the discussion as the world's largest donor in the field and compile a concrete plan by the next G8 summit in Italy next year.
At the onset of the event, Masato Watanabe, deputy director general of the Foreign Ministry's International Cooperation Bureau and chairman of the meeting, said he will seek to reach an agreement so the participants can present future strategies to the next summit.
Holding the experts group meeting was decided on at this year's G8 summit in Hokkaido.