G7 leaders agreed to coordinate China approach much more closely - Canada PM Trudeau

Group of Sevenleaderson Sundayagreedtocoordinatetheir response to the challenges posed byChina"muchmuchmoreclosely", Canadian Prime Minister JustinTrudeausaid after a summit in Britain.

Trudeauled aG7discussion ofChinaon Saturday and called for a unifiedapproach, a source said.

The grouping needed to "stand strong and united" onChinaandagreedto measures to do that,Trudeausaid.

"What we really came together clearly to say and put forward today was a need to speak with one voice, a need tocoordinatemuchmorecloselyour working together and our focus," he told a televised news conference.

One concrete example ofG7action was its offer to help developing nations with an infrastructure plan that could rival Beijing's Belt and Road initiative, he said.

On some issues, such as climate change, theG7needed to work withChina, he said.

"There are areas where we need to challengeChinadirectly, for example on human rights. So a firm united position such as the one we established here at theG7will continue to show ourapproachbased on shared values and respect for international rights is good not just for us but the planet," he added.