G7 leaders agree world economy “an urgent priority”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Pumping up the world economy is an "urgent priority," G7 leaders said Friday, May 27 but left the door open for a go-your-own-way approach in a sign of lingering divisions over how to boost growth, AFP said.

The gathering warned global performance was patchy and faced unwelcome headwinds -- including from a possible "Brexit".

"Taking into account country-specific circumstances, we commit to strengthening our economic policy responses in a cooperative manner and to employing a more forceful and balanced policy mix, in order to swiftly achieve a strong, sustainable and balanced growth pattern," the G7 said in a final statement.

Leaders were unequivocal on their attitude to one of the risks facing the global economy, and came out firmly against so-called "Brexit".

"A UK exit from the EU would reverse the trend towards greater global trade and investment, and the jobs they create, and is a further serious risk to growth," they said in a declaration after two-days of talks.

The grouping -- the United States, Germany, Japan, Britain, Italy, France and Canada -- found easy common ground on the hot-button issue of refugees, agreeing it was a worldwide problem.

"The G7 recognizes the ongoing large scale movements of migrants and refugees as a global challenge which requires a global response," the leaders said in a statement.