Merkel outlines G8 presidency plan

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined her country's objectives during its presidency of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised…

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined her country's objectives during its presidency of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations.

In a speech to world business leaders at the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Ms Merkel said Germany would seek to remove exchange rate imbalances, boost hedge fund transparency, and enter talks with emerging powers.

She also said there was a chance that the Doha round of world trade talks could succeed and urged all sides to be flexible.

Ms Merkel's speech focused on the challenges of globalisation, noting that the rise of new powers like Brazil, China and India should be seen as both a challenge and an opportunity.

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Ms Merkel vowed to forge "new forms of dialogue" with these countries at a G8 summit that she will host in the Baltic sea resort of Heiligendamm in June.

In addition to the G8 countries - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Russia - Germany has invited leaders from Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa to the summit.

Germany took over the dual presidencies of the European Union and the G8 this month.