G7 leaders mull over global risks at summit

Gathering begins as Abe escorts heads of states to the Shinto religion's holiest site, the Ise Grand Shrine

Group of Seven leaders voiced concern about emerging economies at a summit in Japan on Thursday as their host, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, made a pointed comparison to the 2008 global financial crisis but not all his G7 partners appeared to agree.

The G7 leaders did agree on the need for flexible spending to spur world growth but the timing and amount depended on each country, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said, adding some countries saw no need for such spending.