LONDON, Feb 20: Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued formal invitations to world leaders on Friday to attend the London Summit on stability, growth and jobs, taking place on April 2.

Reflecting the participation at the Washington Summit, the prime minister invited heads of state from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic (EU Presidency), France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, and United States.

To ensure a balanced regional representation, the Chair of The New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the Chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations and the President of the EU Commission are also invited. The chairman of the African Union Commission will also attend.

In addition, the prime minister is also inviting heads of a number of global institutions to contribute to specific parts of the agenda.

The prime minister said: “The global economic challenges we face need to be met with decisive action if we are to secure jobs, restore confidence and reinvigorate growth.

“To be effective in addressing this global crisis, we have to bring in partners from across the world. For that reason, I have issued invitations to the leaders of G20 countries and the Chairs of NEPAD and ASEAN, as well as other international organisations.

“Having the world’s poorest countries represented by NEPAD, Asean and the African Union will ensure their interests are not forgotten and their voices are heard.

“Having this mix of countries and international organisations present not only reflects the new reality of the global economy, but will also make any action we take more effective.”

Meanwhile, the prime minister has spelled out his ideas for the summit in some detail in a report ‘The Road to the London Summit’.

The report sets out the ‘Global Deal’ to be discussed at G-20 summit on April 2. The report consists of a package of internationally coordinated measures to restore stability and set a course for a sustainable recovery, including action to:-- stimulate the global economy and help reduce the severity and length of the global recession for families and businesses in every country.

- Kick start lending so businesses and families can borrow again and businesses have the resources to invest for the future.

-- Renounce protectionism, with a transparent mechanism to monitor commitments and measures to increase access to trade finance.

-- Reform international regulation to close regulatory gaps.

-- Reform of the international financial institutions and the creation of an international early warning system, with a strengthened role for the IMF.

-- Co-ordinated international action to build tomorrow today: to put the world economy on an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable path to recovery and growth, ensuring that these benefits extend to the poorest.

--Governments around the world have taken unprecedented action to deal with a crisis that is hitting ordinary people in every country.

The London Summit bringing together world leaders from the G20 countries on 2 April is an opportunity to enhance international coordination to restore global economic growth.