Three Countries' Delegations Visit Sardinia Ahead of G8
G8 member country delegations are continuing to visit Sardinia ahead of the Summit. Representatives from Russia, China and the United Kingdom have all paid visits in the past week.The programme has been fairly similar for all three delegations, who were greeted by Civil Protection Department Deputy Chief Marta Di Gennaro.
The Russian delegation, led by Sergey Sobolev, chief of the Presidential Protocol Directorate of the Russian Federation, comprised 17 members. On 25 January they conducted a detailed inspection of the construction site in the Arsenal and of the buildings that will be hosting the delegations during the Summit. The Russian Government's representatives then went on to visit the island of Caprera, in particular the area associated with Garibaldi and a number of structures that are due to be used during the Summit. Before they left, they also paid a visit to the future media centre.
The Chinese delegation, led by Ambassador to Italy Sun Yuxi accompanied by his wife, his daughter Dongcao and a delegation comprising 11 functionaries and security officers, pursued a similar programme on 27 January. The Chinese delegation was briefed by Commissioner Delegate Guido Bertolaso's staff at Olbia's "Costa Smeralda" airport. While some of the delegates then visited the construction site, others accompanied the ambassador's wife on a tour of Caprera. The Chinese delegation returned to Rome on 28 January.
The week was brought to a close by the British G8 team, comprising five functionaries led by Minister Counsellor Robert Deane, who visited the site on 29 January, returning home the same day. The next delegation to visit will be the French delegation, which is scheduled to arrive on the island next week.
