French President Jacques Chirac believes a summit of the Group of Eight world powers next month will convey a message of confidence in global economic growth.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Chirac also said Europe must give some ground ahead of trade liberalisation talks in Cancun, Mexico, in September, but France was not willing to reform the funding of Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

He expected the June 1-3 summit of G8 leaders in the French Alp spa town of Evian to deliver an upbeat economic message.

"I am convinced Evian can convey a message of confidence in world economic growth; but this message has to be credible and the confidence fully justified," Mr Chirac said in an advance release of the interview.

The G8 leaders are set to meet with Europe and Japan on the brink of recession, and after a recent fall in the US dollar - a move extended by comments from US Treasury Secretary John Snow earlier this month at a meeting to prepare for the summit.

"I don't think the present situation [on the currency markets] requires any particular comment," Mr Chirac said.

Mr Chirac was unwilling to change a Franco-German compromise on funding the CAP that Mr Chirac forged last year with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

"There is no need to modify this accord," he said. However, Europe needed to comprise ahead of the World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun on lowering trade barriers.

"Europe has to give a little ground ahead of Cancun... But it should not move alone. The hold-up in the negotiations certainly cannot be blamed entirely on Europe."