Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he will exchange views with the heads of G7 states and other partners invited to the G7 Summit in Japan on the need to collectively address challenges facing the world.
He made the statement while leaving for Japan to attend the G-7 Leaders' Summit.
"My presence at the G7 summit is especially important as India is chairing the G20 this year. I look forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited parties on the challenges the world is facing and the need to address them collectively," read a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
The G7 Summit is scheduled to be held in Hiroshima, Japan from May 19-21. The G-7 club of rich democracies comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
"I will leave for Hiroshima, Japan, to attend the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. It will be a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Kishida again after his recent visit to India for the India - Japan Summit," the statement said.
PM Modi kicked off his three-nation visit on FRiday.
From Japan, Modi will travel to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea to host the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on May 22, along with his counterpart Prime Minister James Marape.
"I am grateful that all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PIC) have accepted the invitation to attend this important Summit. FIPIC was launched during my visit to Fiji in 2014, and I look forward to engaging with the PIC Leaders on issues that bring us together, such as climate change and sustainable development, capacity building and training, health and well-being, infrastructure and economic development," the statement added.
Finally, Modi will visit Sydney from May 22 to 24.
"I look forward to our bilateral meeting, which will be an opportunity to take stock of our bilateral ties and follow up on our first India-Australia Annual Summit held in New Delhi in March this year," the statement further added.
PM Modi is also scheduled to interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders and meet the Indian community in Sydney.