BERLIN, June 19 (dpa): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to make strengthening cooperation among democracies worldwide a focus of the G7 summit he will host in Bavaria later this month.
"It would be an important success if the summit was the starting point for viewing the democratic world in a new light," Scholz told dpa in an interview.
The Group of Seven (G7) industrialized democracies - the United States, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan - should only be viewed as a starting point.
"The big, powerful democracies of the future are in Asia, Africa and South America and will be our partners," said Scholz, who is hosting the G7 summit June 26-28.
"We have to look at the whole globe and not just have a narrow view of Europe, North America and Japan."
It was for this reason that Scholz said he invited five guests: the leaders of Indonesia, India, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina.
The world will have even more power centres in 30 years than it does today, he said.
"If we manage to ensure that this world nevertheless works together and democracies play a central role, it will be a great step forward," the chancellor said.
This year, Germany holds the rotating presidency of the G7. - dpa