HEILIGENDAMM, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - As the leaders of the world's eight leading industrialized nations meet in northern Germany Wednesday for a three-day summit expected to be dominated by differences over defense and climate policy, their spouses will come together for a parallel forum, with a less divisive agenda to pursue.

The key event on the alternate gathering's program will be a discussion of demographic development issues at the Burg Schlitz castle, near the German seaside resort of Heiligendamm, the venue of the main Group of Eight summit.

The husband of German Chancellor Angela Merkel will welcome his counterparts from Britain, France, Italy, the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia to the elegant early-19th-century property Thursday for the discussion, and a subsequent luncheon.

On Friday, the G8 leaders' spouses will head for the Baltic port of Wismar for a meeting with participants in the Junior 8 summit, an international youth conference with an agenda that mirrors that of the G8 summit.

Analysts fear that U.S.-Russia tensions over Washington's plans to build a missile shield in Central Europe may overshadow this year's G8 forum, which its host, Chancellor Merkel, has been hoping to center on climate change policies and aid for Africa.