The leaders of Russia, Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan, as well as the president of the European Commission and the prime minister of Finland are attending the meeting.
International energy security, the fight against infectious diseases and education are slated to be key topics at the summit.
The leaders of the Group of Eight most developed nations will also address traditional issues, including counter-terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, economic and financial issues, regional conflicts, including the recent escalation of the Middle East conflict, Iranian and North Korean nuclear problems, and the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
