Politics / Group of Eight Group of 8 Cedes Role in Economy to Group of 20 Move to broaden council adds input from likes of China, India By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Sep 24, 2009 9:34 PM CDT Copied Oxfam International activists pose as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, center, and US President Barack Obama. (AP Photo) An administration official says the Group of 20 nations will become a permanent council on global economic cooperation—broadening the number of countries involved in the role currently filled by the Group of Eight major industrial nations. The G-8 would continue to meet on matters of common importance such as national security, the official said ahead of tomorrow's official announcement. The larger group includes the biggest industrial countries, plus major emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India. The official said President Barack Obama initiated the move. (More Group of Eight stories.) Report an error