Leaders of the G7 group of rich nations are due to meet African heads of state for talks on the migrant crisis.
The leaders of Tunisia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Niger and Nigeria will join the second day of the G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily.
Italy chose to host the meeting there to draw attention to Africa and the millions of migrants who risk the crossing to Europe.
But discussion has been dominated by terrorism and climate change.
Saturday also marks the last day of US President Donald Trump’s foreign tour.
Attending his first summit, he told his fellow G7 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan on Friday that he had not yet decided whether or not to endorse the Paris agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It is feared a US withdrawal could cause others to question the deal.
But UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who is also in Sicily for the meeting, told the BBC the accord would survive regardless of Mr Trump’s position.
Mr Guterres, who was previously the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also travelled to Sicily to call for greater action to deal with migration.
So far this year, more than 1,500 migrants are thought to have drowned in the Mediterranean.
Italy is keen to encourage the world’s wealthiest nations to support African countries in developing their economies, so fewer young people will feel forced to make the dangerous journey to Europe.
However, a diplomat told news agency Reuters that other Italian proposals – which looked to highlight the benefits of migration and promote a major initiative on food security – were dismissed ahead of the summit.
According to the source, Mr Trump’s administration was unwilling to highlight benefits of human mobility.
Source – Reuters
