June 27, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1423

CALGARY (Canada) June 26: Most of the leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations are optimistic about the immediate economic future, a Canadian official said on Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting of world leaders.

The official also said the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US would “have to” discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi his plans to boost Japan’s slow economy. With the addition of Russia, the Group of Eight leaders begin their summit in the remote resort of Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies.

The Canadian official said Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, observing the summit as a representative of the European Union, wants the leaders to express confidence in the economic policies of Brazil.—Reuters