PM reaches Rome for G-8 Summit

ROME: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit to attend the Summit of G-8 industrialised nations and a meeting of top leaders of five 'outreach' countries who will grapple with the issues of global economic downturn and climate change.

Shortly after he landed at the Fiumicino Airport here, Singh left by a helicopter for L'Aquila, more than 100km from here, where he will meet with G-8 leaders as also top leaders of Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa

The leaders will deliberate on steps for reviving the global economy hit by financial downturn as well as for mitigating the impact of climate change. The Prime Minister is accompanied by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon among others.

The two-day G-8 Summit begins on July 9. Earlier in the day Singh said in a departure statement in New Delhi that the economic slowdown needed be dealt with by a concerted and well-coordinated global response addressing systemic failures and stimulating the real economy.