Hi ho! G7 leaders resemble the Seven Dwarfs as they plant saplings at meeting in Japan… where Obama says his counterparts are ‘rattled’ by Donald Trump’s presidential nomination
Leaders from Italy, Germany, U.S, Japan, France, UK and Canada attended tree-planting ceremony
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also participated in event at Ise-Jingu shrine in Ise, Japan as summit begins
Obama accused Trump of ignorance about world affairs
US President said: '... a lot of the proposals [Trump] has made display either ignorance of world affairs, or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines'
With shovels in hand and ready to dig, the world leaders at the G7 summit bring to mind the seven dwarfs of Snow White folklore.
But while it's certainly 'off to work' they go, that's where the fairytale comparison ends as they prepare to discuss trade, politics and climate change.
On the first day of talks, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Barack Obama, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, David Cameron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took part in a tree-planting ceremony.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also participated in the event at Ise-Jingu shrine in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture.
Asked today what world leaders thought about Donald Trump, Obama said they are 'rattled' by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
He added that foreign leaders have good reason to feel that way, as he accused Trump of ignorance about world affairs.
Weighing in on the Democratic race to replace him, Obama also downplayed concerns that the protracted fight between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders is hurting his party's chances, brushing off their escalating attacks as the inevitable 'grumpiness' of a primary campaign.
Obama's assessment of the presidential campaign came on the sidelines of the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Japan, the latest world gathering to be coloured by global concerns about Trump.
Obama said foreign leaders at the conference are 'surprised by the Republican nominee' and unsure how seriously to take his pronouncements.
'They are rattled by it - and for good reason,' Obama said. 'Because a lot of the proposals he has made display either ignorance of world affairs, or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines.'
He contrasted that to proposals that thoughtfully address what's required to keep the U.S. safe and prosperous and 'to keep the world on an even keel'.
In a news conference, Obama brushed off calls for Sanders and Clinton to move hurriedly to resolve the primary so that Democrats can unite behind one candidate, arguing that unlike the Republicans, this year's Democratic candidates aren't that ideologically divided.
He likened the hard-fought campaign between Clinton and Sanders to the one he waged with Clinton in 2008.
"... a lot of the proposals [Donald Trump] has made display either ignorance of world affairs, or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines'"
'During primaries, people get a little grumpy with each other. Somebody's supporter pops off and there's a certain build-up of aggravation,' Obama said. 'Every little speed bump, conflict trash-talking that takes place is elevated.'Barack Obama
He urged both Democratic candidates to 'try to stick to the issues,' adding that the grumpiness often stems from voters' frustration when the campaign instead becomes dominated by talk about 'personalities and character'.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged fellow leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies to avert another global crisis by forging a more urgent, coordinated response to the faltering global recovery.
Abe and his counterparts sat down at a round table for the first of their summit working sessions after strolling through the grounds of Ise Shrine, a tranquil, densely forested landmark that is considered the holiest site in Japan's indigenous Shinto religion, and then joining a group of children in the tree-planting ceremony.
An aide said Abe had data charts to dramatically illustrate the severity of the recent slump in commodity prices and the slowdown in China.
'There is a concern that the sluggish economy might last some time, and that Abe hopes to share a common notion about the potential risks,' said Hiroshige Seko, a deputy chief Cabinet secretary.
The G7 gathering dovetails in many ways with Abe's long-term diplomatic, political and economic agenda. A dramatic statement about global economic risks and a strong show of support for public spending to help spur growth could help Abe justify extra stimulus and possibly provide political cover for postponing an unpopular but badly needed increase in Japan's sales tax next April.
The leaders were expected to turn their attention to trade, politics and diplomacy, and to climate change and energy during talks later Thursday.
The annual summit brings together the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. It is taking place amid extraordinarily tight security around the remote summit venue, with uniformed police standing guard at close intervals on both sides of roads and randomly in forests, rice fields, soccer fields and other locations.
Protesters were kept far away. A group of several dozen gathered in a nearby city where they were far outnumbered by police and journalists.
Many of the issues to be discussed during the two days of talks are linked to other Abe policy priorities.
They include maritime security, code for concerns over China's expanding presence in disputed areas of the South China Sea; initiatives on global health, including funding for fighting terrorism and pandemics; and a focus on women's empowerment, which Abe has promoted as 'womenomics'.
Japanese officials have also highlighted joint efforts on corruption, terrorism, global health and migration - which has become a huge headache especially for European nations - as other top priorities.
'Those who criticise us should rather think how to increase their assistance because what Europe provides is already massive,' said Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, calling for G7 support and leadership.
'And honestly speaking, if they (the G7) don't take the lead in managing this crisis, nobody else will. I will appeal to G7 leaders to take up this challenge.'
Tusk said the EU is seeking more support for refugees and creation of resettlement schemes and other forms of legal migration around the world.
A possible exit from the European Union by Britain, depending on a June 23 vote, is also hanging over the talks.
Obama arrived in Japan on Wednesday and had an evening meeting with Abe. After the summit ends on Friday, Obama plans to visit the peace park in Hiroshima, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit the city on which the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in 1945 in the closing days of World War II.
