Sheikh Hasina calls for wealth shareout

The outgoing chairman of the D-8 group of Islamic nations, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has called on the developed world to make sure the wealth generated by global trade is shared out fairly.

Shekih Hasina told the D-8 summit in Cairo that a truly globalised world had to be based on give and take.

She said the developing nations wanted what she called a win-win outcome, and told delegates that the growth in trade between D-8 nations would be a measure of their success in tackling trade problems.

The summit's host, President Hosni Mubarak, said D-8 nations should aim to double trade within the group in the next five years.

Mutual trade between D-8 states at present accounts for only 3.5% of the members' foreign trade.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service