G-8 SCIENCE MINISTERS CALL FOR CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT

Nago, Okinawa Pref., June 16 (Jiji Press) - Science and technology ministers from the Group of Eight major nations on Sunday asked both the public and private sectors to step up investment for the development of clean energy sources.

The request was included in a chairman's statement to sum up the ministers' discussions in this southern Japan city.

The ministers agreed that developing clean energy sources is
important to realize a low-carbon society for curbing global warming.

This was the first meeting among science and technology ministers from the G-8 nations--Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Fumio Kishida, Japanese minister for science and technology policy who chaired the meeting, told a press conference that he believes the latest gathering will help activate discussions on environmental issues at the G-8 summit to be held in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on July 7-9.

The chairman's statement also underscored the need to promote international cooperation in the research and development on next-generation biofuels and assist developing countries in the fight against infectious diseases.

Participating countries are slated to come up with policy steps based on the agreements reached at the latest meeting within one year and go into detailed discussions at next year's meeting of G-8 science and technology ministers to be held in Italy.

Besides the G-8 countries, representatives from such nations as
China and South Korea took part in the Nago meeting.