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The negotiations were not full-scale, however, during dinner the heads of state touched on various issues concerning the development of the world economy and both countries' national economies. The family dinner between American and Russian presidents took place in an extremely warm and open atmosphere.Young people from Russia, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Canada (eight young people aged 13–17 from each G8 member country) selected through national competitions, met this week in Pushkin, near St Petersburg, to discuss the same issues as those on the agenda for the Group of Eight industrialised nations’ annual summit.

The problems discussed by the young people include energy resources and the future of humanity, the spread of AIDS and other infectious diseases, drug addiction among young people, education issues and the problem of combating the spread of extremism among young people.

The participants in the junior summit are discussing their ideas with experts, ministers, and prominent figures from the arts, scientific and sports communities.

The participants in the summit will choose by secret ballot one person from each national delegation to meet with the G8 heads of state at the Konstantin Palace on July 16.

Meeting with the participants in the Junior G8, Mr Putin called on all the parties involved in the conflict in the Middle East, Israel and Lebanon in particular, to put an immediate end to the bloodshed.

The President also spoke on energy matters and the issue of finding solutions that would benefit both energy producers and consumers.

Also discussed was access to agricultural produce markets within the framework of the World Trade Organisation.

In his discussion with the participants in the Junior G8, Mr Putin said he hoped that consensus decisions would be reached on all three of the key subjects on the agenda for the G8 summit in St Petersburg.