http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/08/content_11674932.htm
L'Aquila, Italy, July 8 (Xinhua) -- On the first day of the Group of
Eight (G8) summit this year, the most eye-catching event is the small
gathering and a follow-up news conference of the leaders from five non-
G8 countries.
Obviously, leaders of the five developing countries, namely China,
India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico, hope their voices on
international affairs could be clearly heard.
It shows not only the increasing aspirations of developing
countries to partake international affairs, but also a steady
formation of a multi-polar world.
The G8 summit was originated in 1975 when the world economy
entered recession as a result of the U.S. dollar crisis and high oil
prices. In a bid to cope with those crises, leaders from France, the
United States, Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan held a meeting to
coordinate their economic policies.
At present, the most significant challenge facing the
international community is undoubtedly the ever-spreading
international financial and economic crisis. However, the policy
coordination platform to respond to the crisis is no longer the G8,
which is composed almost entirely of developed countries.
The Group of 20 (G20), which groups both developed and developing
countries, has taken a prominent role.
To some extent, such a change indicates the profound development
of the international situation. For decades, Western powers have
dominated world affairs by formulating rules and coordinating
policies. However, with the development of globalization and multi-
polarization, the G8 is forced to admit that it can no longer deal
with global challenges on its own.
In recent years, the G8 has been trying to strengthen dialogues
with developing countries, which also reflects the world is undergoing
unprecedented changes.
The international financial chaos resulting from U.S. sub-prime
mortgage crisis exposed the weakness of the Western model of economic
and social development.
Under such circumstances, the rise of the G20 on the international
arena is not out of the blue.
The developing countries are no longer standers-by of major
decision-making processes, but equal participators.
Unsurprisingly, the interests of developing countries and Western
countries vary in many areas. Therefore, dialogues and cooperation
among developing countries are necessary.
The first-ever full-scale meeting of leaders from Brazil, Russia,
India and China (BRIC) in Russia's Yekaterinburg in June was a useful
attempt. BRIC has not only translated itself from an economic concept
eight years ago into a tangible mechanism of dialogue and cooperation,
but also formed a significant force to safeguard the overall interests
of developing countries.
As major emerging economies, the four BRIC nations accounted for
42 percent of the world's population, 14.6 percent of global GDP and
12.8 percent of the global trade volume in 2008.
The world listens when the BRIC leaders gather together on
international issues.
A multi-polar world is emerging when developing countries speak
loudly on the international arena.
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