I discussed these and other matters with my G8 development Minister counterparts in Rome on 11-12 June 2009. This meeting reaffirmed G8 commitments on Official Development Assistance (ODA) and international assistance confirmed at the G8 summit last year in Japan. The G8, under the presidency of Italy, is continuing its focus on Africa. Global health, including reducing the spread of infectious diseases, also remains a priority concern.
With less than three weeks until the G8 summit in July, discussions on the G8 development agenda, including meeting our commitments, are frequent and ongoing and taking place at ministerial and official level. They will be further discussed during the G8 Sherpa preparatory meetings scheduled for next week. The UK Government remain determined to meet their commitments to Africa and to fighting infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and polio and working towards the goal of universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. We are pressing our G8 colleagues to do likewise.