G8 summit pledges $20 bln to fight hunger

<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" align="left" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center"><img alt="G8 summit,pledges $20 bln,fight hunger,general news, china news, china information" src="/News/UploadPic/2009-7/20097102114565258.jpg" /><br />G8 leaders</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Leaders at the Group of Eight (G8) summit pledged 20 billion U.S. dollars Friday to help poor countries increase their agriculture output in order to fight hunger.</p><p>&quot;We welcome the commitments made by countries represented at L'Aquila toward a goal of mobilizing 20 billion dollars over three years through this coordinated, comprehensive strategy focused on sustainable agriculture development, while keeping a strong commitment to ensure adequate emergency food aid assistance,&quot; the leaders said in a statement issued after the summit in this central Italian city.</p><p>Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told a press conference at the end of the summit, that the G8 &quot;initiated a L'Aquila Food Security Initiative to increase from 15 billion dollars to 20 billion dollars in three years&quot; to help fight world hunger.</p><p>The G8 statement said a complex of factors, including longstanding underinvestment in agriculture and food security, food price hikes and the economic crisis, led to increased hunger and poverty in developing countries.</p><p>&quot;The number of people suffering from hunger and poverty now exceeds one billion,&quot; the statement said, pointing out &quot;an urgent need for decisive action to free humankind from hunger and poverty.&quot;</p><p>The leaders also called for effective food security actions to be coupled with measures related to climate change and management of water, land, soil and other natural resources.</p><p>&quot;Delivering on our commitments in a timely and reliable manner, mutual accountability and a sound policy environment are key to this effort,&quot; the statement added.</p><p>The leaders said the food security agenda should focus on agriculture and rural development by promoting production, productivity and rural economic growth.</p>