Hiroshima. The G-7 group on Saturday called on China to pressure its strategic partner Russia to end its war on Ukraine. The G-7 is a group of the world’s seven largest advanced economies. These include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and America.
The G-7 leaders said in a joint statement issued on Saturday that they do not want to harm China and want a ‘constructive and stable relationship’ with China, to ‘communicate openly with China and express their concerns directly’. Recognize the importance. “We call on China to stop its military offensive and pressure Russia to immediately withdraw all its troops from Ukraine,” it said.
“We encourage China to support a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and objectives of the UN Charter through direct dialogue with Ukraine,” the statement said.
The leaders called for working together on challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, global health concerns and economic stability, the statement said. The group said cooperation with China is necessary given its global role and economic size.
The G-7 leaders expressed ‘deep concern’ over the situation in the East and South China Seas. China is increasing its military presence in the East and South China Seas and is threatening to use force to assert control over self-ruled Taiwan. He called for a ‘peaceful solution’ to China’s claims on Taiwan.
The statement said that ‘China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region.’ G-7 countries have expressed concern about human rights in China, including in Tibet, Hong Kong and the far western region of Xinjiang. It said, ‘Our policy approach is not to harm China and we do not want to hinder China’s economic progress and development.’
Chinese officials have reacted to various G7 statements on economic pressure and other issues, accusing the United States and other members of making unethical statements. An editorial by China’s state-run news agency Xinhua called such accusations false. It says America leads the way in coercion and exploitation. The G-7 leaders’ statement was released on the second day of the three-day summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Hiroshima on Saturday to attend the meeting.
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Tags: China, G7, Russia, Ukraine
First Published: May 21, 2023, 06:15 IST
