G8 youth forum to open on Hokkaido isle Wednesday

TOKYO, July 2 (Itar-Tass) - A Group of Eight (G-8) youth forum begins its work on the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido on Wednesday.

Young delegates from a number of African and Central Asia countries,
as well as those from Iraq and Nepal, have been invited to take part in
the forum, along with delegations from Russia and other G-8 countries.
Japan's Foreign Ministry and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) sponsor the
forum.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official has said Japanese Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Itsunori Onodera, UNICEF and local government officials
will greet guests at the forum opening ceremony.

Those present at the forum will discuss the same problems of current
concern as those on the agenda of the G-8 summit, due to take place on
Hokkaido from July 7 to 9. The schoolchildren and students from various
parts of the world intend to discuss, in particular, efforts aimed at
combating climate change, poverty, and the prevention of epidemics.

The youth forum, which will continue for several days, is to begin
near Lake Shikotsu in the area of the city of Chitose. The final part of
the forum will take place near Lake Toyako, the venue of the forthcoming
G-8 summit.

Discussions to be held by members of the world's younger generation
will result in the adoption of a joint Action Plan. Its framers are
expected to set out the essence of the plan on July 7 in person during a
meeting with the presidents and premiers of G-8 countries.