Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G-7) countries started two days of talks in Kitakyushu on Sunday, focusing first on promoting investment in production, infrastructure and technology to ensure stable energy supplies.

Gathering in Fukuoka Prefecture, ministers and representatives from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union, the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency addressed concerns that declining spending on oil and gas development could lead to a shortage of supply capacity because demand is expected to pick up over the long term in emerging countries, Japanese officials said.

The ministers are expected to discuss nuclear power safety on the second day.

The event is the first G-7 energy ministers' meeting held in Japan since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

The session is one of a series of G-7 ministerial meetings being held in the run-up to the Ise-Shima summit to be held in Mie Prefectures at the end of the month.