World leaders have arrived in Evian for a G8 summit set to be dominated by building bridges following the Iraq conflict.

Ahead of the three-day summit, being held under intense security, Tony Blair has called on the world's richest nations to put their differences aside.

He said the leaders should agree to tackle African poverty and work towards removing global trade barriers.

"The most important thing, particularly after all the differences there have been over Iraq, is that the international community comes together and gives a very strong statement," said the prime minister. "It will be the quality of intent that is as important as anything else.''

Blair's comments were echoed by EU external affairs commissioner Chris Patten.

"It is terribly important that we put what were genuine disagreements behind us and recognise that in alliances and partnerships you are entitled to have your own opinions and sometimes you will fall out, but by and large you give one another the benefit of the doubt," he told Breakfast with Frost.

President Bush will use the visit to make the case for his global agenda and is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with the new Chinese president Hu Jintao and President Chirac of France.

He is also expected to use the meeting to press the case for fresh moves to combat the spreads of Aids in Africa.

The current state of the war on terrorism, the Doha trade round and the current global economic instability are also set to dominate the meeting of the world's richest nations.

The theme of the event will be solidarity: but with disagreement over trade and the fall-out from the collapse of the dollar still ringing in the world's ears critics point out that harmony may prove difficult to achieve.