Leaders from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico gathered Tuesday in Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido, northern Japan, to exchange views on the issues of common concern.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and leaders of the other four developing countries were meeting on the eve of an outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit, slated for Wednesday in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako.

At the outreach session of the G8, leaders of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations, China and the other countries invited to the meeting will discuss the pressing issues facing the world today, such as the world economy, climate change, food and energy security.

The G8, an informal forum of leading industrialized nations, groups Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada and Russia.

At the end of Tuesday's group meeting, the leaders are expected to meet the press and issue a political declaration on issues ranging from the world economy, to climate change and food and energy security.

The Group of Eight has strengthened links and dialogue with developing countries in recent years. Such a trend has helped advance the South-North dialogue and cooperation, push forward the development of multilateralism, and promote the resolution of global issues.

"China values dialogue between the Group of Eight and developing countries," Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi told reporters in Beijing Thursday.

He urged developed and developing countries to work on common policies and cooperation to address the global challenges such as climate change and food security.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2008)