PM arrives in Berlin

Berlin, June 6 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived here today on a four-day visit to Germany to attend the G-8 Outreach Nations Summit, said steps to check climate change should not hamper economic growth and development.

Dr Singh said he would also present India's viewpoint on energy efficiency and the conclusion of Doha Round of WTO talks at the Summit at Heiligendamm, ''Our viewpoint, and the viewpoint of much of the developing world on these issues, is that while addressing them due care must be taken not to allow growth and development prospects in the developing world to be underminded or constrained,'' he said in a statement.

Besides India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa will be attending the Summit.

On the eve of his departure yesterday, the Prime Minister had set up a high-level advisory group on climate change to advise the Government on pro-active measures to deal with the challenge.

Dr Singh said he would emphasise the need not to lose sight of the fundamental and universally accepted principles of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities between the developed and developing world on the issue of climate change.

''It is also a fact that more and not less development is the best way for developing countries to address themselves to the issue of preserving the environment and protecting the climate,'' he said.

Dr Singh is accompanied by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and other top officials.

Prior to the meeting with leaders of the G-8, Mexican President Felipe Calderon would host a meeting of leaders of the Outreach Nations in Berlin on June 7 where they would discuss their position on global issues that are of special relavance to the developing world.

On the sidelines of both these summit meetings, Dr Singh said, he would also have the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present, including German Chancellor Angela Markel, other leaders of the G-8 and the leaders of China, Mexico and Nigeria, besides UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

MORE UNI