Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in talks Tuesday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, relaunched his proposal to expand the Group of Eight (G8) to include emerging nations from Africa, Latin America and Asia, according to DPA. To date, most members of the G8 - which includes the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Russia - have reacted lukewarmly to the proposal. Berlusconi next year plays host at the group's scheduled summit in Italy. But the Italian premier, speaking at a joint news conference in Rome, said he had Lula's full backing and pledged to continue pressing for the idea's acceptance. Brazil, India, China, South Africa and Mexico should join an eventual "G14", or if, as he hoped, with Egypt's inclusion, a "G15," Berlusconi said. Such emerging nations have "an important role to play in the world economy's governance," Berlusconi said. Both Lula and Berlusconi referred to the meeting Saturday of the G20 - which brings together rich and poor nations - where proposals for regulations to avoid a repeat of the current global financial crisis will be put forward.
