ELMAU CASTLE, Germany: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Tuesday condemned China's "nontransparent and market-distorting" international trade practices in an end-of-summit statement that hit out directly at Beijing for the first time. There, the 30-member, United States-led alliance was also poised to toughen its stance against Beijing in an update of its "strategic concept." The US has long cast a wary eye at China over its trade practices, which Washington believes are designed to accord an unfair advantage to Chinese companies over foreign companies. The leaders also voiced concern about human rights violations in China, urging Beijing to respect fundamental freedoms. To offer an alternative to the world's poorest, the G7 on Sunday pledged $600 billion for global infrastructure programs.

Source: Manila Times June 28, 2022 22:26 UTC