Strauss-Kahn, who was due to arrive in Moscow on Friday for talks with senior government officials, told Russia's Vremya MN newspaper that the European Central Bank (ECB) was a new institution whose actions were being watched closely by markets.

"Having created a single currency, 11 states now form a currency zone which on a global scale is the main player on the economic scene," he said.

"We acknowledge this new role and we are now trying to get the European point of view heard accordingly, speaking with one voice within the walls of such international economic institutions as the G7," he added.

The issue of euro-11's increased representation, opposed by Japan and the United States, is expected to be discussed at the next G7 meeting to be held in Bonn in February.

Japanesefinance ministry officials said in Tokyo on Thursday that Japan was against too much European representation at meetings of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors.

One Japanese official said a December decision by EU leaders to have it represented by the chairman of an informal council of the 11 euro states would mean too many Europeans at the talks.

EU leaders also want to have ECB president Wim Duisenberg attend the meetings, with the European Commission providing "technical support".

The EU proposal would lead to the euro-11 chairman and ECB president sitting at G7 meetings alongside permanent members Germany, France and Italy.

In addition to the three continental European nations, the G7 nations are Japan, the United States, Canada and Britain.