No sense in Russia not being full G7 member-Germany

ESSEN, Germany, Feb 9 (Reuters) There is no sense in not including Russia as a full member of the powerful G7 group of nations tackling the world's most important economic issues, German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said today.

''It does not make sense to have the Russian Federation not as a full member at the table,'' Steinbrueck said.

Expanding the Group of Seven nations beyond the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Italy has become a pressing issue as economies such as China, India and Russia have grown to exert substantial influence on global growth, trade and currencies.

''There are a lot of topics that cannot be discussed without the important emerging market countries like China, India, South Africa, Australia to name a few. I think that one should have them at the table,'' Steinbrueck told a news conference.

''It's not a formalised process, but in my opinion, this G7-G8 meeting will be expanded to include this circle, and in the sense of full membership,'' he said.

German officials have already said China would be involved in Saturday's G7 discussion on global economic issues and in all subsequent talks on economic policy.

REUTERS BDP HS2227