France hopes Egypt will join G14

CAIRO: France invited Egypt to join the countries that would comprise the G14, a proposed extension of the G8, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters in Cairo on Saturday.

"It is our wish and hope that the G8 will expand as fast as possible, with you in particular," Kouchner said, turning to his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit during a press conference at the presidential palace in Cairo.

Kouchner was on a one-day visit to Egypt during which he met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Abul Gheit, ahead of a visit by Mubarak to France later this month.

Germany and France have been lobbying to broaden the G8 by including China, India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil.

The Group of Eight of leading industrial nations comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.