G7 leaders warn China not to conduct 'interference' as Zelenskyy arrives at summit
CTV
The G7 nations have declared their intentions to decrease their dependencies on China, but their leaders say they don't plan to part ways with the world's second largest economy.
Canada and the G7 have reasserted their intention to decrease their economic dependency on China while specifically calling on the country not to conduct "interference activities."
The leaders gathered for their annual summit in Hiroshima, Japan put out a joint communique on Saturday that included the new language on foreign interference at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's request.
It warned China it must "act in accordance with its obligations" under the treaties that govern diplomatic and consular relations, "and not to conduct interference activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities, the integrity of our democratic institutions and our economic prosperity."
A Canadian official said during a media briefing ahead of the document's release that Trudeau had specifically raised the issue with his counterparts from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
World leaders have faced a high-stakes balancing act in Hiroshima as they look to address a raft of global worries demanding urgent attention, including climate change, artificial intelligence, poverty and economic instability, nuclear proliferation and, above all, the war in Ukraine.
Their communique was released ahead of schedule to accommodate an appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Hiroshima Saturday afternoon after attending the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia.
His appearance came after G7 countries announced new sanctions on Russia on Friday.