TAORMINA, Italy, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A two-day summit of leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations kicked off Friday in the Italian town of Taormina.
The heads of state of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, plus the EU are expected to talk about a common response to international terrorism.
The topic was pushed to the top of the agenda after a suicide bomber claimed at least 22 lives and wounded dozens when he blew himself up at a concert by American teen idol, Ariana Grande, in the British city of Manchester on Monday.
G7 host Italy is expected to table the issues of migration and the need for massive investments in Africa as one way to reverse the exodus of people fleeing war and destitution.
In terms of long-term policies, G7 leaders are also expected to talk about sustainable growth and development.
According to local media, U.S. President Donald Trump, who attended his first-ever G7 summit, remains the unknown quantity due to his protectionist views on trade, his outspoken stance against immigration, and his avowed intention to invest in fossil fuels, thus rolling back the clock on climate change.
The 43rd annual summit of G7 is to end on Saturday, with leaders expected to come up with some kind of joint statement. It remains to be seen whether they will find consensus.
