Japan to host G7 summit meeting next year

TOKYO - Japan will host a summit meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on May 26-27 next year in the city of Shima in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, local media reported Tuesday.

The country will also host ministerial meetings, such as foreign affairs and finance, however the time and venue of them haven't been decided yet, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference, adding the Japanese government will announce relevant messages in due course.

"The government will do its best for the success of the Ise- Shima Summit," Suga said. "The period was decided as a result of coordination with other G7 members."

The G7 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on June 5 that Japan will host a summit of G7 in the city of Shima in Mie Prefecture in 2016 under its presidency.

Asked whether Japan is considering inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the 2016 summit, Suga said "nothing has been decided."