Major greenhouse gas emitters China and India as well as African countries including South Africa will be invited to participate in the Group of Eight summit meeting to be held in July in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, as nonmember countries.

The government on Tuesday officially announced 15 nonmember countries invited to participate in the summit meeting's "expanded dialogue" that will focus on climate change and African development.

Invited to take part in the expanded dialogue on African development to be held July 7, the first day of the summit, are Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. African Union Commission Chairperson Jean Ping also is invited to participate in the dialogue.

Invited to take part in the expanded dialogue on climate change to be held July 9, the last day of the summit, are Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.