President Hu Jintao arrived in Prestwick, Scotland, Wednesday for an informal meeting between Group of Eight (G8) leaders and leaders of five developing countries in Gleneagles.  

The president flew in from Astana, where he just concluded a state visit and attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Hu's special plane arrived at the Glasgow Prestwick International Airport in the evening. Prestwick is located on the West Coast of Scotland.

The G8 leaders and leaders of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa will meet Thursday in Gleneagles Hotel, about 65 kilometers northwest of the Scottish capital Edinburgh.

The major issues to be discussed at the informal meeting include the global economy and the management of impacts of climate change.

The G8 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and Russia.

Before the informal meeting, the five developing countries will meet to coordinate their stand on issues to be discussed with G8 leaders.

Hu is on the last leg of his three-nation tour. Before his Kazakhstan trip, he paid a state visit to Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2005)