Global economy likely to dominate G7 meeting

World Today

The global economy is likely to dominate discussions at the Group of Seven Summit, beginning Thursday in Japan. US and Japan relations have come under focus following the recent murder of a Japanese woman in Okinawa by a worker from a U.S. military base.

CCTV’s Terrence Terashima reports.

Tension mount in central Japan: more police reinforcements were brought in from all parts of the country in preparation for the G-7 Ise-Shima summit.

Over 23,000 police officers manned every road in out of the city, from the nearby international airport, with over 6,000 journalists are expected to cover the event.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was hoping to show his leadership and Japan’s commitment in tackling international concerns

Abe is eyeing to end decades of Japan’s economic and political downturn and to put Japan back on the map as a major player in the international society

Topics from terrorism, refugees, cyber and maritime security will be on the table, but Abe was most anxious in securing an agreement on boosting the world economy with fiscal steps.

G-7 finance ministers and central bankers failed to reach an agreement earlier in the month, concluding the meeting with a vague agreement that each country should go their way to tackle the global winter.

Experts have said that Abe was also hoping to use the G-7 agreement as a launch pad for a stimulus package and possible postponement of a consumption tax increase ahead of the upper house election in July.