Business leaders from the Group of Eight countries held a one-day conference here Thursday to discuss measures to curb global warming.

The meeting was convened to prepare proposals for the G-8 summit, which is scheduled for July 7-9 in the Lake Toya resort area of Hokkaido.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda urged the G-8 business leaders at the start of the meeting to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

"What is required of the business sector is to try to realize a low-carbon (emission) society, and close cooperation between the public and private sectors will be indispensable," Fukuda was quoted by media as saying.

The G8 business chiefs are expected to release a statement and hold a joint press conference after the gathering.

It is second such meeting since April 2007, when the G8 business leaders met ahead of summit held in Heiligendamm, Germany, in June that year.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2008)