World leaders kick off G7 talks in Japan

World leaders kick of two-day G7 talks in Japan, with critical issues like global economy, terrorism and refugees crisis to be top on their agenda.

Heads of state and government from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and host Japan are meeting in Ise Shima, 300 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

US President Barack Obama arrived in Japan for the summit that will also take him to the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima.

Britain's David Cameron, whose country's referendum next month on continued membership of the European Union is likely to figure prominently on the summit agenda.

With the G7 leaders expected to continue their support of David Cameron's argument, the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has hit back at criticism of his own position, arguing he is on a "unity ticket" with Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau and John Key, reports the Guardian.

The G7 leaders are set to discuss how to deal with China's dumping of surplus steel with global steel industry crisis likely high on the agenda in Ise-Shima.

Earlier, the visiting politicians in the Ise Jingu shrine were greeted by the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

The leaders were taken to the inner Naiku shrine, where they underwent a cleansing ceremony.

British Prime Minister Cameron, French President François Hollande and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then planted a Japanese cedar tree, helped by schoolchildren from the Mie prefecture, reports the Guardian.

The G7 leaders begin their talks on Thursday afternoon.