Pretoria - South Africa is expected to ensure the impact of the global financial crisis on Africa is discussed during the G8 Summit this week.
The "Group of 8" world leaders are currently gathering in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy, ahead of the meeting which kicks off on Wednesday.
President Jacob Zuma is expected to attend the event, along with International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Departmental spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota said during the three-day meeting, leaders would hold a special Africa Outreach session with the G8, which will be attended by the African Union New Partnership for Africa Development (Nepad) 5+3.
This is the five countries who initiated Nepad, including Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa and Libya (as Chair of the African Union), Ethiopia (as Chair of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee), and the AU Commission.
Angola, as the eighth nation, was also invited by host Italy to attend the session, said Ms Kota.
The G8-Africa Outreach, established in Kananaskis, Canada in 2002, was aimed at promoting the African Agenda.
Ms Kota said they would discuss the response to the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on Africa as well as the fight against climate change leading to the Copenhagen Conference.
The meeting will also ensure the implementation of all previous commitments agreed to by the G8, promoting the development agenda as well as strengthening peace and security in Africa with a specific focus on Piracy and strengthening of North-South relations.
