G-8 meets amid calls to take on new members

In any case, the outreach program and the inclusion of a representative of the 27-member European Union in the talks has vastly increased the G-8's relevance and reach, he said. Instead of expanding membership, the group should reform by building up its institutions.

"The G-8 on membership alone is a very large and powerful thing already," he said. "I think it's wrong to say the G-8 has too few members, that it hasn't expanded fast enough, that it's losing relevant capability in the world."

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Associated Press business writer Malcolm Foster contributed to this report.