"We had difficult discussions and it seems, I sincerely hope, that we are heading for an agreement," Chirac told a press conference after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Russia's Baltic Sea resort of Svetlogorsk.

Climate change and aid to Africa will be the two key themes at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland on July 6-8.

Last week, Chirac said he was "not optimistic" about talks on climate change but "determined" on the issue. Paris wants to include "a clear and explicit reference to science" in the summit declaration.

Meanwhile, top officials are confident US President George W. Bush could pen an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the G8 summit, newspapers said Sunday.

The US has refused to ink the United Nations' Kyoto Protocol on emissions limits but Bush may be prepared to move on the issue, reports said.

Leaders from the Group of Eight industrial powers are to start their three-day annual gathering on Wednesday at Gleneagles, Scotland. Host British Prime Minister Tony Blair has put climate change and Africa at the top of the agenda.

In a draft text being thrashed out by negotiators on behalf of Britain, Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and Russia, the G8 states are expected to pledge themselves to cut back on fossil fuel use, The Observer reported.