ROME, May 24 (RIA Novosti) - A two-day meeting of G8 energy ministers got underway in Rome on Sunday with an investment forum involving global energy companies.
The ministers' meeting is aimed at preparing the energy agenda for the G8 summit to be held in July in L'Aquila, central Italy.
The Energy Business Forum involves oil and gas producers, as well as companies working on renewable energy, nuclear power, and low-carbon technologies.
Italian economy minister Hon Claudio Scajola, hosting the energy talks, earlier said the ministers would seek to: "define and reach consensus on energy policies that can help overcome the current economic and financial crisis while coping with the challenges ahead of us."
The sides will discuss ways to "grant energy security, combat global climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions coming mainly from the energy sector, promote the competitiveness of our economies and ensure access to energy sources," he said.
As well as the G8 members - France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada - the meeting also involves China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Russia is represented at the talks by Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko.
