Climate change is expected to be the focus of Tuesday discussions at annual talks between the eight major industrialized nations in Japan.
Observers say U.S. President George Bush is under pressure to back an agreement on tackling climate change during the annual Group of Eight summit. Mr. Bush has said countries with growing economies like India and China must be part of any effort to limit greenhouse gasses in order for a deal to work.
Africa dominated discussions during Monday's opening meetings on the northern island of Hokkaido.
African leaders pressed the world's eight major industrialized nations to keep their pledge to boost aid to Africa to 25 billion dollars a year by 2010. They warned that soaring prices for oil and food are making poverty worse in African countries.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon backed the African leaders, noting that the problems of food, climate change and development are all interconnected.
World Bank chief Robert Zoellick says it is important to have a system in place to monitor G8 nations' efforts to fulfill their aid pledges to Africa.
Aid groups say only a trickle of the promised amount has made it to Africa since the pledge was made at a G8 summit in Scotland two years ago.
Mr. Bush will participate in a working meeting Tuesday with other G8 leaders. Mr. Bush will be meeting separately with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the morning.
Leaders from China, India and other countries that are not members of the G8 are also scheduled to meet today.
The rising costs of food and oil, aid, and global warming are major issues at this week's summit in Japan.
The three-day summit ends Wednesday with a larger gathering that includes Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.
