The G7 nations have declared their intentions to reduce their dependence on Chinabut their leaders say they have no plans to divorce the world’s second-largest economy.
The G7 leaders meeting in Hiroshima for their annual summit released their communique on Saturday.
“Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China, nor do we seek to oppose China’s economic progress and development. A growing China that abides by international rules would be in the global interest,” the document said.
“At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires reduced risk and diversification. We will take steps, individually and collectively, to invest in our own economic vitality. We will reduce over-dependencies in our critical supply chains.”
The document was released early to accommodate an appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Hiroshima on Saturday afternoon.
The G7 leaders’ meeting comes at a time of global uncertainty heightened by geopolitical tensions with China and Russia.
The document released on Saturday includes a section on where the world’s most powerful democracies stand on China, and how they plan to counter its growing influence.
The leaders said they are ready to build “constructive” relations with China, but they also plan to protect themselves by working together to counter economic coercion and resist unfair practices.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China itself is a victim of economic coercion.
“If any country should be criticized for economic coercion, it should be the United States. The United States has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export controls and taken discriminatory and unfair measures against foreign companies,” Wang said in a routine news briefing.
The G7 leaders have focused on building consensus among members on how to deal with global challenges, while drawing other countries into their tent.
Japan invited countries from the Global South to attend this year’s summit as the G7 countries seek to draw countries away from China and Russia and onto their side.
The communique also includes language about foreign interference, something a government official says Canada has been pushing for.
The official, who provided the information during a media briefing ahead of the release of the communique, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the issue at the summit with other leaders.
“We call on China to act in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and not to engage in interference activities aimed at undermining the safety and security of our societies, the integrity of our democratic institutions, and our economic prosperity” , the document says.
His appearance comes after the G7 countries announced new sanctions against Russia on Friday.
The leaders’ communiqué said they plan to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war “for as long as it takes”.
In addition to the release of the communique, Canada announced investments to support people in emerging economies and developing countries.
The hundreds of millions of dollars announced will go towards addressing climate change, energy, food security and women’s issues.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
[pub1]