<P> The forum originated with a 1975 summit hosted by France that brought together representatives of six governments : France , Germany , Italy , Japan , the United Kingdom , and the United States , thus leading to the name Group of Six or G6 . The summit came to be known as the Group of Seven , or G7 , in 1976 with the addition of Canada . Russia was added to the political forum from 1997 , which the following year became known as the G8 . In March 2014 Russia was suspended following the annexation of Crimea , whereupon the group 's name reverted to the G7 . Certain representatives of G7 countries stated that they would be interested in Russia 's return to the group . However in 2017 Russia announced that it would permanently leave the political forum G8 . The European Union was represented at the G8 since the 1980s as a `` nonenumerated '' participant , but originally could not host or chair summits . The 40th summit was the first time the European Union was able to host and chair a summit . Collectively , in 2012 the G8 nations comprised 50.1 percent of 2012 global nominal GDP and 40.9 percent of global GDP ( PPP ) . </P>
when did russia join the world economic forum
1997