Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has urged China to fulfill its responsibility as a major power at a Group of Seven meeting in Germany.

The G7 foreign ministers exchanged views on China and the Indo-Pacific region on Thursday.

The Japanese foreign minister underscored the need to urge Beijing to play its part as a major power. He also said it is necessary for the G7 countries to send China a message that they are ready to work together in areas where they can cooperate.

In response, other participants said effective cooperation with China will only be possible under the rules-based international order.

The ministers agreed on the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and to oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

They also confirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and agreed to seek a peaceful resolution.

Hayashi also addressed North Korea's latest series of missile launches, including one that may have been an intercontinental ballistic missile.

He stressed that North Korea's provocation should never be tolerated.

The ministers strongly condemned the repeated ballistic missile launches by the North.