Leaders of the Group of Seven nations will open their three-day summit in the western Japanese city of Hiroshima on Friday.
Attention is focused on what messages they will send on nuclear disarmament and G7 solidarity amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's assertiveness.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the chair of the meeting, is aiming to boost momentum for the abolition of nuclear weapons through the first G7 summit in a city that was attacked with an atomic bomb. The G7 includes three nuclear-armed countries: The United States, France and Britain.
Kishida will receive other leaders at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on Friday morning before guiding them to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. They will begin their full-fledged talks in the afternoon.
Ten sessions are scheduled over the three days through Sunday. Some discussions will involve leaders from non-G7 countries and regional groups. Major agenda items will include the global economy, the situation in Ukraine, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and food and energy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to attend a session on Ukraine online on Sunday.
Kishida is hoping to demonstrate G7 unity to maintain and solidify a free and open international order based on the rule of law amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's aggressive posturing.
Kishida also plans to enhance the G7's involvement in challenges confronting emerging and developing nations, collectively known as the Global South. He believes increased engagement with these countries is essential to enabling the international community to cooperate on global issues.
Kishida also intends to work toward Japan taking a leadership role in setting global rules for generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT.