Sherpas of the Group of Eight industrialized nations have held their first meeting of the year in Moscow, where they discussed the forum's priorities for Russia's year as chairman, the organization said in a statement Monday.
Over five sessions on Thursday and Friday, the G8 sherpas, who act as personal representatives of their respective governments' heads of state, addressed Russia's main theme for the year — risk management — and related topics including management of natural and man-made disasters, global health safety, preventing financial crimes, openness of information and the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition.
The sherpas also discussed the world economic situation and need to move towards a model of sustainable development.
The first meeting of the G8 group on accountability, which compiles the forum's yearly report on its efforts to promote international development, is scheduled for Wednesday.
