By Christopher Adams and David White in London
The Financial Times
Tony Blair, UK prime minister, yesterday put Africa at the heart of talks among the world's richest nations this year, publishing a British-backed report on ending poverty and conflict in the poorest continent.
The widely trailed conclusions of the Commission for Africa were hailed by Thabo Mbeki, South African president, but met a more cautious welcome from western charities. Critics said Mr Blair's ambitious agenda risked floundering unless rich nations committed significant sums of money.
Mr Blair will use the report's conclusions, which closely reflect British thinking, to steer discussions among the leaders of the Group of Eight most industrialised nations when they meet in Scotland in July.
"The report itself is only the first step," he said at a launch ceremony at the British Museum in London. "It is nothing if we do not use it to achieve change."
He said the commission's aim was to build a new partnership with Africa that went beyond "the old donor-recipient relationship".
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