BEIJING  -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said Sunday that  the Group of Eight (G8) had increased links and dialogue with developing nations in recent years, which indicated a positive trend.

Such a trend helped advance South-North dialogue and cooperation, push forward the development of multilateralism, and promote the resolution to global issues, Hu noted.

The president, who is scheduled to visit Japan from May 6 to 10, made the remarks during an interview with journalists from 16 Japanese media organizations stationed in Beijing.

The G8 summit was slated for July in northern Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture. The G8 nations -- Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan and Russia -- and leaders of developing countries will hold the outreach dialogue.

Hu hoped that all parties to the dialogue would make full discussions on major international issues of common concern on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.