Australia PM pushes for prominence of G20 over G8

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The world should look to the Group of 20 nations to discuss key issues such as climate change and poverty instead of the Group of Eight, because it better represents the global economy, Australia's prime minister said on Tuesday.

"In the 21st century it makes no sense to have an institution of global economic governments which excludes China, India, Brazil, Mexico and the Muslim world," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at the Clinton Global Initiative, a philanthropic summit organized by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

"The G20, it's got its imperfections, but you have all those guys on board. You also have the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia, you have South Africa."

Rudd's remarks came two days ahead of a summit of G20 leaders being held in Pittsburgh.

Rudd, who shared the stage with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and the chief executives of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) and Coca-Cola Co (KO.N), noted that the G20 countries are spread across the world instead of concentrated in North America and Europe.

"As a result, across that group you have a degree of representational legitimacy," he said.

"Because for the first time you have emerging economies around the table it changes the center of gravity of the discussion," he said. "That's really important. Poverty is discussed, the question of development is discussed."

The G8 includes the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. (Reporting by Martinne Geller; Editing by Leslie Adler)