New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will be among the world leaders who will meet at the Evian summit in France early next month to strengthen measures against international terrorism and have an open discussion on globalisation and governance.

Vajpayee is among the 20 heads of state and government specially invited for the open debate on a host of issues ahead of the G-8 meet of leaders of eight industrialised nations.

The summit to be held on June 2 and 3 is expected to focus on four principles of action: solidarity, responsibility, security and democracy.

With security being one of the priority issues, the G-8 will discuss at length firm and effective measures to combat international terrorism.

At last year's summit at Kananaskis, a small Canadian rock mountain resort, the leaders had taken certain important decisions to prevent terrorists from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction.

Leaders from the world's eight industrialised countries – Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and Russia –would discuss steps to further improve transport security and intensify the fight against the financing of terrorism.

Vajpayee, who will embark on May 27 on a week long visit to Germany, St Petersburg (Russia) and France, will have an opportunity twice to interact with US President George W Bush in a span of a few days.

Bush and many others will be present at the 300th anniversary celebrations of St Petersburg, the hometown of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and later re-assemble again at Evian.

The Prime Minister will also have an occasion to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao at St Petersburg, weeks before his visit to Beijing that is expected to take place during June end.

The two leaders will also against come face-to-face at Evian, a small Haute-Savoie town tucked between the picturesque mountains and Lake Geneva.

Ahead of the summit, French President Jacques Chirac said it would set directions for the world's return to growth after "some difficult months".

"To control the turbulent situation and the dangers that threaten us, to take advantage of the opportunities offered to all, we too will have to show our commitment to dialogue and international co- operation," he said.

The leaders are expected to renew their pledge to work towards the renaissance of Africa. The G-8 is keen on stimulating African economic development, particularly by giving its products better access to world markets.

PTI