ABSTRACT
The sense of crisis had left the international financial system and calm had returned to the markets. Most of the heads of government that gathered at Okinawa were summit veterans and knew each other well - including Prodi, now attending as President of the European Commission rather than Italian Prime Minister. Debt relief for the poorest countries was the most serious subject for the G7 heads as at Cologne, the Russians were not involved. The working dinner on the first evening, as usual, focused on political issues. Communications Technology was the most substantial subject covered. The communique duly said the G8 would 'try together with other World Trade Organization (WTO) members to launch such a round during the course of this year'. During the G8 discussions, Putin explained his economic reform programme, hoping it would produce results and gain support. The report on financial architecture was largely work in progress; the report on money-laundering was based on work done elsewhere.
