<P> Russia (excluded) </P> <P> The G8, reformatted as G7 from 2014 due to Russia's exclusion, was an inter-governmental political forum from 1997 until 2014, with the participation of the major industrialized countries in the world, that viewed themselves as democracies . </P> <P> The forum originated with a 1975 summit hosted by France that brought together representatives of six governments: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, thus leading to the name Group of Six or G6 . The summit came to be known as the Group of Seven, or G7, in 1976 with the addition of Canada . Russia was added to the political forum from 1997, which the following year became known as the G8 . In March 2014 Russia was suspended following the annexation of Crimea, whereupon the political forum name reverted to G7 . In 2017 Russia announced its permanent withdrawal from the G8 . Some representatives of G7 countries stated that they would be interested in Russia's return to the group . The European Union was represented at the G8 since the 1980s as a "nonenumerated" participant, but originally could not host or chair summits . The 40th summit was the first time the European Union was able to host and chair a summit . Collectively, in 2012 the G8 nations comprised 50.1 percent of 2012 global nominal GDP and 40.9 percent of global GDP (PPP). </P> <P> "G7" can refer to the member states in aggregate or to the annual summit meeting of the G7 heads of government . G7 ministers also meet throughout the year, such as the G7 finance ministers (who meet four times a year), G7 foreign ministers, or G7 environment ministers . </P>

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