Tokyo - Japanese media called the outcome of Tuesday's climate change discussion among the world's seven largest economies and Russia "a big step forward." 

"Winning a positive reaction from the United States to achieve a common long-term goal is very meaningful," Yomiuri Shimbun said on its front page Tuesday. 

The United States and other Group of Eight leaders agreed at Toyako, northern Japan, to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

The groundbreaking deal, brokered by G8 hosts Japan and propelled by the European Union, overcame the resistance of US President George W Bush, who had refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and who continues to block plans for medium-term cuts. 

By drawing consensus from conflicting opinions between the European Union and the United States, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda gained a strong foothold to call this year's G8 a success, Mainichi Shimbun newspaper said. 

Japan's leftist newspaper Mainichi Shimbun also pointed out that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the agreement "a progress" from Heiligendamm last year. (dpa)