British PM seeks joint effort against tax evasion

British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for joint effort to tackle tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance weeks ahead of the Group 8 Summit.

Cameron, in a letter to leaders of crown dependencies and overseas territories, said that he has made the fight against tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance a priority for the G8 Summit, reported Xinhua Monday.

It is the "critical moment to get our own houses in order", he added.

The G8 summit is scheduled to open in North Ireland June 15.

The letter has been written to Britain's 10 overseas territories, including some of the world-known "tax heavens".

Cameron also said the move would "help us to reach our goal of setting a global standard in tax transparency".

He urged the territories to sign international agreements designed to allow tax information to be shared more easily between countries.

In an early interview with a US media, Cameron disclosed the agenda of the G8 summit meeting, which includes increasing trade, fairer taxes and greater transparency.

He expressed his hope that the overseas territories could seize the opportunity to showcase progress on tax, trade and transparency they together have made, and set the global standard on transparency.