In such a severe situation, Fukuda counts on scoring in foreign affairs. His Cabinet pulled off praise for having improved ties with neighboring countries following visits to Japan by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in April and Chinese President Hu Jintao in May. More diplomatic achievement at the G8 summit would be much helpful to the Fukuda administration.

Garners understanding on hot isssues

Fukuda held talks with US President George W. Bush in November and Russian leaders, President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in April. Up to now, Fukuda has met leaders of six countries of the other seven fellow G8 members.

According to Japan's tentative plan, this G8 summit would concentrate on climate change, and rising oil and food prices. Fukuda took with him the topics to Europe and won general support from the four European leaders.

For example, Merkel and Brown both agreed that the G8 should send out positive signals on the issues, and Berlusconi, in echoing Fukuda's proposal, called on the body to provide tangible resolutions.

About the post-Kyoto framework of reducing the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leaders of Germany, Britain and France upheld Japan's position which proposes bringing rising countries into the new framework.

Berlusconi promised all-rounded cooperation for the success of the summit and expressed interests in Fukuda's suggestion of establishing an international supervision mechanism aimed at preventing speculation in food markets.

During a meeting with Fukuda on the sidelines of the food summit, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged the Japanese PM by saying Japan bears historical and political responsibilities in the cause of dealing with global warming.