Yudhoyono calls for stepped-up trade, partnerships among D-8 countries

Yudhoyono said the more than 900 million people living in D-8 countries were an enormous market for their products and offering a multitude of business opportunities.

Therefore, he added D-8 countries should strengthen their private sectors.

"We have to create opportunities for our traders and businessmen to do business for mutual benefit," Yudhoyono said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who will lead the D-8 for the next two years said the D-8 summit this time in Kuala Lumpur was facing a world economic problem because of unprecedented surges in the world oil price.

"Global oil prices are predicted to rise to US$170 per barrel at the end of this year and will continue to edge up to US$200 per barrel next year," Badawi said.

Present at the D-8 summit were also among others President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Pakistan`s Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Egyptian International Cooperation Minister Fayza Mohamed Abdoul Naga.

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