7 June 2007
The Prime Minister has stressed that the ongoing G8 summit in Germany should not focus on the issue of climate change alone.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Bush, Mr Blair drew attention to a number of other pressing items on the G8 agenda including aid, health and trade.
He said:
"We have also got to focus on recommitting ourselves to the Gleneagles process on Africa, on making major steps forward there in relation to things like HIV-Aids and education.
"In addition to that of course there is the situation in Darfur where we both are anxious that there is strong action taken. And then we have also managed to have a word too about the world trade talks which we want to see reach a successful conclusion."
On climate change, the Prime Minister reiterated his confidence that world leaders would nevertheless use the summit to make significant progress on tackling the issue.
"I think there’s a very substantial coming together around the need to make sure we have a substantial reduction in emissions and find the right process and the right way we can achieve that."
The G8 summit, focusing on the global economy, climate protection and African development, concludes on Friday.
Final meeting
The breakfast meeting between the two leaders was the last face-to-face discussion to take place before Mr Blair steps down on 27 June.
President Bush called the talks a "nostalgic moment" and thanked Mr Blair for his "commitment" to causes such as fighting HIV Aids.