12
July 2008: The Sixth Summit of the Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries
(D8), (7-8 July 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) concluded
with the adoption of the “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Meeting Global Challenges
through Innovative Cooperation,” which recognizes that the food and energy
crises pose a serious threat to socio-economic stability.

Stressing
the need to address the global food crisis, delegates agreed to consider the
creation of a D8 Food Fund. A number of speakers called for concerted actions
among D8 countries to tackle the soaring food prices, with Malaysian Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi highlighting the promotion of joint ventures
among their companies to produce fertilizer, animal feed and create a seed bank
to ease supply constraints in agricultural output. On surging oil prices, the
declaration emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance
capacity, transfer of technology, exploration of new sources of supply,
development of alternative fuels, including renewable sources, as well as
peaceful use of nuclear energy. [D8 press
release]