Seven heads of state or government have been confirmed to attend the summit of eight developing countries (D-8) to be held in Bali, Indonesia, from May 9 to 13, Indonesian Foreign Ministry official said.

Six heads of state or government have confirmed their plans to attend the 5th summit in Bali. Including Indonesia as host, the number of summit participants will be seven. One country would send a ministerial-level official to the meeting, Antara news agency quoted the director of social culture and international organizations of developing countries at the foreign ministry, Linggawati Hakim, as saying here on Thursday.

The six heads of state or government who would attend the meeting are from Iran, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey. "Egypt will send a minister namely minister for international relations to the meeting," she said.

She said Indonesia would take over the chairmanship of the D-8 countries for the period of 2006 to 2007 from Iran in the meeting and therefore President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would directly lead the meeting.

"The D-8 chairmanship is for two years and rotated among members following alphabetical order," she said.

So, it is predictably Malaysia will be the next host, she said.

The group was established in 1997 to increase trade cooperation among members.

The 5th summit in Bali is expected to produce a Bali declaration and two cooperation agreements.

The first agreement is Trade Preferential Agreement which has already been completed and agreed upon in the sixth meeting of high ranking trade officials in Bali recently.

The second agreement is an agreement on administrative assistance in customs affairs.

"The signing of the two agreements will be a stepping stone to increase trade among D-8 member countries," she said.

The Bali Declaration meanwhile will reflect common concern of D- 8 heads of state or government towards global issues and refresh their commitment to advance the group.

A Business Forum and a Trade Fair meanwhile will also be held during the summit to facilitate economic cooperation among D-8 member countries.

"This will be the first business forum and trade fair to be held during the summit," she said.

The 5th D-8 Summit will be themed "Enhancing D8 Intra-Trade."

Source: Xinhua