This year's summit of the rich world's leaders suffers no shortage of symbolism. It marks the 25th anniversary of the first such summit; the first of the new millennium; and President Clinton's eighth and last. It is taking place between July 21st and 23rd on the Japanese island of Okinawa, home to 26,000 American troops and site of a vicious battle in the second world war. Keen as it is to flex its muscles on the international economic stage, Japan is determined to make the summit a big deal. The goal, say the Japanese hosts modestly, is to set the stage for "greater prosperity", "peace of mind" and "world stability" in the 21st century.
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