Pope Francis made a historic appearance on the G7 summit on Friday to debate the professionals and cons of artificial intelligence, while G7 leaders pledged to take motion against what they see as harmful business practices by China.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who hosted the summit, invited the Pope and other heads of state and government, including the Prime Minister of India and the King of Jordan, to indicate that the G7 isn’t an aloof, exclusive club.
“We will never accept the narrative that the West is against the rest,” Meloni said on the meeting on Friday.
The pope, who arrived in a wheelchair and was warmly welcomed by leaders including US President Joe Biden and fellow Argentine President Javier Milei, acknowledged the ambivalence surrounding artificial intelligence, saying it could generate enthusiasm and expand access to knowledge.
“At the same time, however, there could be greater injustice between developed and developing countries or between ruling and oppressed classes of society,” said the 87-year-old.
The predominant G7 members – the United States, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Canada – had previously focused on China's economic influence and what they saw as unbalanced markets in areas resembling electric vehicles, steel and renewable energy.
In their summit declaration published on Friday evening, the G7 states stressed that they weren’t in search of to harm China or hinder its economic development. However, they might “continue to take action to protect our companies from unfair practices, create a level playing field and repair ongoing harm.”
The G7 also warned against motion against Chinese financial institutions that had helped Russia procure weapons for its war against Ukraine.
Washington this week imposed recent sanctions on China-based firms that provide semiconductors to Russia, amid concerns about Beijing's increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan and disputes with the Philippines over rival maritime claims.
Migration Coalition
The leaders also discussed immigration, a key issue for Meloni, who’s pressing Europe for assist in curbing illegal migration from Africa and has launched a flagship plan to spice up development on the continent and tackle the basis causes of migration.
They agreed to ascertain a coalition to combat human trafficking. This will involve greater cooperation in investigating human trafficking networks and seizing their assets.
“Illegal migration is now a global emergency,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “We all agree that it is the job of sovereign states to control their borders, not criminal gangs.”
Sunak said it was the primary time migration had been discussed at a G7 summit and praised it as an indication of progress.
“Of course, these things don't happen overnight,” he said. “(But) the conversation … was very productive, so I'm confident it will make a difference.”
On the primary day of their meeting in southern Italy, the G7 countries agreed on a deal in principle to supply Ukraine with $50 billion in loans backed by interest from frozen Russian assets, hailing the agreement as a powerful signal of Western determination.
In their summit declaration, the G7 leaders said they desired to impose further costs on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine and announced sanctions against firms that had helped Russia circumvent restrictions on its oil trade by fraudulently supplying oil.
However, Meloni, the pinnacle of a right-wing government, bumped into trouble over the best way to take care of sensitive social issues within the declaration summarizing the work of the G7.
The G7 leaders didn’t mention abortion directly of their final communiqué, as Italy didn’t bow to French pressure to incorporate the word within the document. The draft also sparked accusations of watering down support for LGBTQ rights in comparison with the statement the leaders made on the previous meeting in Japan.
Italy spoke of a diplomatic storm in a teacup and argued that the G7 had not modified its position on either issue.
Many of the leaders, including Biden, are expected to go away Italy late Friday. On Saturday, those remaining in Italy could have the chance for bilateral meetings before Meloni gives a final press conference.
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