USA, June 25, 2010: Europe must focus on growth as well as cutting spending to reduce national deficits, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has told a news agency.

Speaking in Washington ahead of G8 and G20 meetings this weekend in Canada, Mr Geithner said that world leaders must concentrate on the “paramount” challenges of growth and confidence.

He added the world could not rely as much on the US as it has in the past. The European Union says securing growth “remains a priority”.

The Group of Eight and Group of 20 rich and developing nations are assembling on Friday for three days of talks.

The leaders of the G8 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US - are meeting in Muskoka, Ontario on Friday and Saturday to discuss help for poor countries.

Later on Saturday, in Toronto, the G20 will open talks on how best to emerge from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and will conclude the summit on Sunday.