The name "Big Eight" appeared by analogy with the previous name - "Big Seven", which in Russia was used as an incorrect translation of the English version of Group of Seven ("Group of Seven"). The number here indicates the number of states that are part of this informal association of the most powerful financially and economically states.
The G8 is not an official organization and was originally created by six countries as an advisory body to work out joint solutions to bring the world economy out of the crisis. Then, in the mid-70s of the last century, the states of Europe, Japan and the United States were waging "export wars" with each other. Their termination was the task of an informal consultative club that united opponents. The date of the creation of the advisory body of the heads of state and government of the most economically developed countries is November 15, 1975 - on this day, in the French city of Rambouillet, at the initiative of the then French President Giscard d'Estaing, a meeting of representatives of the United States, Japan and four European countries - France, England, Germany and Italy.
In 1976, the second state of the North American continent, Canada, was added to this group of the most influential in the financial, economic and political spheres. Finally, the circle of members of the club in its current form was formed in the period from 1991 to 2002 - for almost a decade, representatives of Russia were increasingly involved in the G8 meeting in stages. Thus, today the G8 unites the heads of state and government of France, England, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Canada and Russia.
Recently, the annual meetings of the G8 are not limited to participants from only eight countries; representatives of the most rapidly developing economies are also invited to it. We can say that the G20 format is already being used when making some decisions. The expanded membership includes India, Spain, Brazil, China, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Korea. Another seat in the G-20 is given to the President of the European Union as a separate organization, despite the fact that five of its members participate in the work of the club independently.
