G7 wants to de-risk, not decouple from China: Biden

US President Joe Biden yesterday said the Group of Seven nations were agreed in their approach to China and the need to diversify their supply chains so they are not dependent on one country.

"We're not looking to decouple from China. We're looking to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China," Biden told a news conference.

He added that he expected a thaw in frosty relations with China "shortly" after strains caused by an incident earlier this year when the United States shot down a Chinese balloon that flew over sensitive military sites.

The group of world leaders said they did not want to harm China and were seeking "constructive and stable relations" with Beijing, "recognizing the importance of engaging candidly with and expressing our concerns directly to China."

China's Foreign Ministry, for its part, urged G7 members to "focus on addressing the various issues they have at home, stop ganging up to form exclusive blocs, stop containing and bludgeoning other countries."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy huddled with some of his biggest backers as the G7 summit closed in Hiroshima, building momentum for his country's war effort even as Russia advanced on the battlefield.

The Ukrainian leader's in-person appearance in his trademark olive drab underscored the centrality of the war for the G7 bloc of rich democracies.

It also stole much of the limelight from other priorities, including security challenges in Asia , that the leaders focused on at the three-day gathering.

"G7 reaffirmed our commitment to continue our strong backing for Ukraine from every possible dimension," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

Hanging over yesterday's talks was the Russian claim that forces of the Wagner private army, backed by Russian troops, had seized the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The eight-month battle for the eastern city - seen by both sides as a major symbolic prize - has been the longest and likely bloodiest of the war.

Biden announced a new military aid package worth US$375 million for Ukraine during his meeting with Zelenskyy, saying the US would provide ammunition and armored vehicles.

"We have Ukraine's back and we're not going anywhere," Biden said. Zelenskyy thanked Biden for the support, adding that "we will never forget."

While Ukraine dominated the summit, the leaders of Japan, the US, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Italy, as well as the European Union, also aimed to address global worries over climate change, poverty, economic instability and nuclear proliferation.

And Biden sought to reassure world leaders that the US would not default because of the debt limit standoff that has cast a large shadow over his trip.

They also urged China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine and "support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace."

The G7 leaders also discussed efforts to strengthen the global economy and address rising prices that are squeezing families and government budgets around the world, particularly in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

They reiterated their aim to pull together up to US$600 billion in financing for the G7's global infrastructure development initiative, which is meant to offer countries an alternative to China's investment dollars.