G7 summit at a glance: World leaders gather in Japan

Leaders of seven of the world’s most powerful democracies have gathered for the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, the location of the world's first atomic attack at the end of World War II.

The Group of Seven (G7) consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This year, the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam are invited.

Leaders of the UN, the International Energy Agency, the IMF, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Bank, the WHO and the WTO are also invited.

This year the summit is being held in Hiroshima, the location of the world's first atomic attack at the end of World War II, as Hiroshima is Kishida's hometown.

The choice of venue underscores a determination to put nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation at the top of the agenda of this year's summit.

Key issues include string condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine while pledging their continuing support for Ukraine, focus on Beijing’s escalating threats against Taiwan among other pressing issues.

The first summit was in 1975, when France hosted a meeting to discuss tackling a recession that followed an Arab oil embargo.