Instead of adopting an omnibus communique the G7 leaders announced a number of joint statements on issues that concerned this group of advanced countries and economies whose decisions play a crucial role in the different spheres in our contentious times. In all there were nine such statements stretching from geopolitics to supply chains for critical materials to the Ebola crisis which, as noted by me in an earlier column, has been declared by the World Health Organisation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Two joint statements–on migration and drug trafficking—were of specific concern to G7 members while those relating to the fight against cancer, safer digital space for minors, balanced , durable and resilient growth and mutually beneficial international partnerships cover all countries.
Among these themes that the joint statements covered it would be…