Efforts by the Group of Eight to enter a closer dialogue with new economic powers such as China and India are being undermined by the rich nations’ unwillingness to listen fully to the emerging nations’ concerns, according to one of their representatives.

A year ago the G8 launched what it planned as an “equal and enduring partnership” with five emerging economies, but in reality – in spite of some progress – the “developed countries have basically set the agenda”, Lourdes Aranda, Mexico’s deputy foreign minister and co-ordinator on the G8 for the five countries, believes.