Bush promises to be constructive on climate at G8

By Tabassum Zakaria and Chisa Fujioka

TOYAKO, Japan (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush promised on Sunday to be constructive in talks on global warming but said a deal was impossible unless fast-growing China and India agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is high on the agenda of the annual summit of the Group of Eight rich nations that starts on Monday at a luxury hotel on the lush northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

"I'll be constructive. I've always advocated that there needs to be a common understanding and that starts with a goal," Bush told a news conference after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the host of the three-day summit.

"And I also am realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don't share that same aspiration, then we're not going to solve the problem," said Bush, who turned 62 on Sunday.

China, India and 12 other countries will join the regular members of the G8 -- the United States, Japan, France, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy and Russia -- for parts of the summit.

Global inflation driven by soaring food and fuel prices will be high on a crowded agenda, as will efforts to alleviate African poverty. Leaders are also likely to condemn the violence that preceded last month's presidential election in Zimbabwe and will discuss North Korea's nuclear programme.

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