TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Tokyo on Friday for a five-day trip in France to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit.

Leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States will gather in the southern French town of Biarritz on Aug. 24-26.

During the summit, Abe plans to discuss with fellow G7 leaders about global affairs including international trade and climate change, local media reported.

"We'll discuss and seek progress on issues of sustainable global growth and free trade promotion, as well as on regional issues such as North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and Iran," Abe told reporters before his departure.

In the tense atmosphere due to clashes between the United States and other members, Abe will attempt to play a part in preventing rifts within the G7 from widening, according to local media.

The Japanese prime minister is scheduled to return to Japan on Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said fighting inequality will be a key theme while his country holds the G7 presidency this year.