Russia’s G8 presidency prioritizes sustainable growth, security in 2014

Managing risks for sustainable growth in a secure world is the key priority of Russia’s G8 Presidency in 2014, according to the program published on the official website of Russia's Group of Eight (G8) Presidency. This priority will be realized through cooperation in the fight against drugs, fight against terrorism, resolution of conflicts, global management of natural and man-made disaster risks and global health security. Russia took over the G8 Presidency on January 1 from the United Kingdom (UK) and plans to hold the 40th G8 Summit in Sochi on June 4 and 5. Russian President Vladimir Putin, while taking over the G8 presidency, said, "As the holder of the G8 Presidency, Russia suggests that the G8 members should develop comprehensive and cooperative mechanisms to control the most critical risks." Russian experts believe that Moscow would help establishing dialogue to solve many serious problems, especially economy, among G8 countries. “One of the key priorities of Russia's G8 Presidency in 2014 is to maximize the socioeconomic effect of the group's initiatives and decisions, including in the area of international security,” Deputy Chief of the Presidential Experts' Directorate and Russian G8 Sherpa Alexei Kvasov says. “But our common goal is not just acceleration of global growth, but also ensuring sustainable development, social harmony and environmental balance," he said. The G8 is an unofficial forum of the world's major economies (Russia, the US, UK, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, and Italy with the participation of EU Leaders) designed to coordinate approaches to the most pressing global affairs issues. G8 represents only 12.7 percent of the world’s population and 28.1 percent of its territory, but half of its GDP. The G8 Presidency rotates and the host country of its annual summit presides over the forum throughout the year, coordinating the G8's operating activities.