Cairo - France has invited Egypt to join the countries that would make up the Group of fourteen (G14), a proposed extension of the Group of eight (G8) leading industrial nations, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Cairo on Saturday.

"It is our wish and hope that the G8 will expand as fast as possible, with you in particular," Kouchner was quoted by Egypt's state Middle East News Agency as saying at the presidential palace.

Kouchner, on a one-day visit, met President Hosny Mubarak and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit for talks on political developments in the Middle East peace process and Sudan's Darfur region.

Mubarak is due to visit France later this month.

Germany and France have been lobbying to extend the G8 by including China, India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil.

The G8 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. (dpa)