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Published 22:03 IST, August 26th 2019

Donald Trump skips climate meeting at G7 Summit, makes up a story

US President Donald Trump skipped a session at the G7 Summit dedicated to climate change and the Amazon wildfire and cited his bilateral meets for the same.

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
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US President Donald Trump skipped a session at the G7 Summit dedicated to climate change and the horrific Amazon wildfire. 

As the world leaders took their seat around a round table to discuss the issue, the chair dedicated to US President Donald Trump remained vacant. Subsequent to his absence, the White House in a statement said that Donald Trump missed the meeting on climate change, because he had bilateral meetings planned with India and Germany. 

Press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, "The President had scheduled meetings and bilaterals with Germany and India, so a senior member of the Administration attended in his stead."

However, both the leaders of the country, PM Modi and Germany Chancellor were present at the climate change summit. 

READ| Imran Khan admits 'no Muslim nation with Pakistan' on Kashmir issue

According to CNN, in the race up to the G7 Summit in France, Donald Trump's aide said that the US President was not entirely interested in the climate change parts of the summit, calling it a waste of time in comparison to discussions relating to economy. 

The host of the G7 Summit, President of France, Macron had narrowed down the theme of the Summit to 'fighting inequality' amid other issues looming across the globe including- the US-China trade war, Tehran-Washington escalating tensions and even the fire in the Amazon rainforest.

PM Modi sets the terms on Kashmir

PM Modi set the terms straight with Donald Trump at the G7 Summit, as he assured that all issues between India and Pakistan are bilateral in nature. He said that India does not want to bother other countries over them. The Prime Minister also assured that a solution can be found between the two countries after discussions.

"All issues between India & Pakistan are bilateral in nature. This is why we don't bother any other country regarding them. We can discuss issues together and find a solution. India and Pakistan were together before 1947 and I'm confident that we can discuss our problems & solve them, together," PM Modi said during the summit. 

READ| Imran Khan claims win, even as Trump upholds 'Kashmir is bilateral'

Donald Trump on Monday backed off on the Kashmir issue. He said that 'the Prime Minister (Modi) has it under control,' during his bilateral meeting with PM Modi at the G7 Summit at Biarritz. Interacting with the media after the meeting, Donald Trump conceded that the two nations can solve the issue bilaterally. He also hoped that Indo-Pak discussions on Kashmir will be fruitful.

What is the G7 Summit? 

Often being looked as the grouping of 'rich countries,' the G7 Summit includes the seven countries, that are the largest and the most developed, industrialised economies of the world for them to discuss economic policies. 

The grouping that was created in 1975 first included six countries, with Canada joining a year later. The grouping also included Russia, who was then suspended in 2014 over Moscow's seizure of Crimea, that was looked down upon as illegal by the member nations.  

Updated 22:50 IST, August 26th 2019