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‘India’s G20 Presidency Set Path For World’

World Bank President Ajay Banga emphasised that challenges will always exist but India had shown the way by working out a consensus…reports Asian Lite News

World Bank President Ajay Banga on Sunday said that India in its G20 presidency has set a path for the world and lauded that the G20 declaration was anonymously adopted by all G20 nations.

“I consider the fact that there was a declaration, a tribute to the fact that the G20 leadership found a way to give and take and negotiate and find a right way to agree and set a path for the world. The world is watching, the G20 has got the developed world and the developing countries,” Banga said.

While speaking to ANI, Banga emphasised that challenges will always exist but India had shown the way by working out a consensus.

He added, “80% of the world’s GDP was sitting in the room. If they would not agree that would not give a good message. I actually compliment India, its leadership and the G 20 leaders for being able to make sure that a terrific declaration comes out. There will always be challenges.”

“No 20 countries will agree on everything. People will have to look after their national interests. But I am optimistic by the mood I saw in that room” he added.

Earlier on Saturday the G20 Delhi Declaration was adopted. It called on nations to uphold international law, including territorial integrity, international humanitarian law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability.

The declaration envisages a green development pact for a sustainable future, it endorses high level principles on lifestyle for sustainable development, voluntary principles of hydrogen, the Chennai principles for a sustainable resilient blue economy and the Deccan principles on food security and nutrition among others.

The biggest takeaway of the declaration was that all 83 paras of the declaration were passed unanimously with a 100 per cent consensus along with China and Russia in agreement. For the first time, the declaration contained no footnote or Chair’s Summary.

The G20 meeting on Saturday also saw the African Union being inducted as the new permanent member of G20 thereby offering developing nations a greater say in global decision-making

PM Narendra Modi on Saturday also launched the Global Biofuels Alliance in the presence of US President Joe Biden, President of Brazil Luiz Inacio, President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni.

Brazil, India, and the United States, as leading biofuel producers and consumers, will work together during the next few months towards the development of a Global Biofuels Alliance along with other interested countries.

Another major takeaway from the summit, was the announcement launch of a mega India-Middle East-Europe shipping and railway connectivity corridor by India, the US, Saudi Arabia and the European Union. (ANI)

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‘India adopted unconventional approach to its G20 Presidency’

In his address, Jaishankar observed that with the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 a little over a month away, four points were especially important with respect to the ongoing Indian G20 Presidency…reports Asian Lite News

Stating that multiple challenges confront the G20 grouping, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India adopted an unconventional approach to its Presidency, making it much more connected with people.

A major highlight of the second day of the Think20 (T20) Summit in Mysuru on Tuesday was a virtual address by Jaishankar, followed by a high-level interaction with him. Speaking on India’s G20 Presidency, Jaishankar said that there have been “some achievements, some work in progress, and some hope in progress”.

The T20 is an official Engagement Group of the G20 and serves as an “ideas bank” for the G20 by bringing together think tanks and high-level experts to deliberate on relevant policy issues. Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is serving as the T20 Secretariat during India’s Presidency of the G20.

Introducing the session, Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, Chair, T20 India, described Jaishankar as “a remarkable leader who strides Indian foreign affairs like a colossus”, and as “a key architect of India’s robust foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

In his address, Jaishankar observed that with the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 a little over a month away, four points were especially important with respect to the ongoing Indian G20 Presidency.

Jaishankar said that given the immense value of the G20 as an international grouping, “India must ensure a focus on the right issues and come up with an actionable consensus”.

The external affairs minister emphasised that it is crucial that the G20 remain unified and cohesive, with “open discussion among all members, irrespective of their other affiliations”.

Jaishankar stressed that the polarisation within the UN Security Council has made the G20 a more crucial group than it might otherwise have been.

He stated said that at a time when development is under stress worldwide, the G20’s mandate on development and growth makes it a key contributor to the global good.

“Multiple challenges confront the G20 today. There is a North-South divide and an East-West disconnect, Covid’s impact across sectors, the Ukraine conflict, a debt crisis, and trade disruptions. These factors have impeded efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to undertake climate action,” Jaishankar said.

He further asserted that early in its Presidency, “India decided it was important to be fair to countries not in the room and to hear them”.

Consequently, India conducted an exercise called the ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ in January 2023, entering into a dialogue with 125 countries in order to distil their development concerns. These have shaped India’s priorities as G20 President, he said.

The External Affairs Minister added that as the Indian Presidency draws to a close there have been “some achievements, some work in progress, and some hope in progress”.

A few milestones have included the positive outcomes of the Development Ministers’ Meeting in June 2023; consensus around the idea of sustainable lifestyles; a decisive focus on the challenges of advancing the SDGs; a stron`g and sustained emphasis on women-led development; and progress in deliberations on reforming multilateral development banks, Jaishankar said.

“It is important for G20 member states to realize that what unites us is greater than what separates us,” the external affairs minister said.

Jaishankar concluded his address by stating that India had adopted an unconventional approach to its G20 Presidency, making it “much more connected with people”, and demonstrating that “their concerns and global concerns are indivisible”. (ANI)

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India’s G20 presidency sends message of inclusion, democratisation

The effects of international conflicts are instantly felt within the nation because of the substantial presence of Indian workers, students, and diaspora in other regions of the world…reports Asian Lite News

India, ever since it took over the rotating presidency of the G20 in December last year, has made persistent efforts to send a message that as a leader in multilateral platforms, it will work to usher in inclusive agenda-setting practices and create transparent processes to act on shared global challenges, Asia Times reported.

Recently, the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister of India has released an occasional paper on challenges confronting the Group of Twenty (G20) and the need to craft effective policy solutions while taking into account the worries of the Global South or emerging countries. For instance, the paper stressed the importance of providing underdeveloped nations with more help so they may operationalise resilience measures and establish generous technology-sharing standards. Notably, the study urged for more global and bilateral investment for “build back broader” programmes by undertaking integrated infrastructure projects in order to assist the Global South in overcoming post-pandemic economic issues, as per Asia Times.

The Indian government has consistently worked to include a range of viewpoints in G20 discussions ever since it assumed the G20 presidency in December last year. For instance, a “Voice of Global South Summit” was convened in January to solicit input and include the perspectives of developing nations in the G20 agenda.

As of the last month, more than 12,300 participants from more than 110 different countries had already attended G20 meetings. As of now, India has hosted more than 105 sessions for the G20’s engagement groups, ministerial meetings, and Sherpa tracks.

Numerous organisations in India are planning conferences, workshops, seminars, and other activities pertaining to the G20. Diverse societal sectors’ active participation in these events reflects a rise in public interest in world politics.

With the growth of media and social media, even the general populace is beginning to recognise how global events affect them on a daily basis. For instance, it is now more commonly acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine is responsible for the rise in energy costs, according to Asia Times.

As the Indian service sector becomes more integrated into the global economy, several Indian startups were adversely affected by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in the US. The periodic shortcomings in financial regulation in rich nations and their repercussions for developing ones are hot topics in India.

People are leaving India in greater and greater numbers, both for business and leisure. The overall number of students who will be studying abroad in 2022 will rise by 68 per cent to 750,365.

The effects of international conflicts are instantly felt within the nation because of the substantial presence of Indian workers, students, and diaspora in other regions of the world.

As a result, the G20 agenda and event calendar are a response to the country’s increased interest in international politics. G20 meetings are taking place all throughout India, be it Kerala in the deep south or Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast, Asia Times reported.

India is democratising its foreign participation, which should continue after the G20 Summit in September. State governments, think tanks, educational institutions, trade associations, labour unions, and cultural organisations are just a few of the entities striving to have an impact on India’s international engagement right now.

The G20 summits are being actively utilised by many state governments to highlight the economic potential in their local regions. Similarly, the third G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting will take place in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, from May 22 to 24. (ANI)

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India witnessed highest African participation under its G20 presidency

Africa represents the voice of around 1.37 billion people, and leaving them out of the decision-making table is detrimental to global sustainable economic growth…reports Asian Lite News

Africa’s participation in the ongoing G20 presidency under India has been the highest ever, the Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj said.

The G20’s focus on Africa has been consistent in recent years. However, India’s G20 Presidency is very unique given India’s track record of amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing countries. The Ambassador pointed this out while she was addressing the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development 2023. The 2023 ECOSOC Financing for Development (FfD) Forum was held from April 17-20 at UN Headquarters in New York.

Additionally, the numerous G20 meetings being held in India are also striving to address the challenges of the Global South and the world in general. India, with its ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ and other measures, has managed to provide a larger representation of the issues, concerns, and aspirations of the African region.

India’s priorities, such as inclusive digital infrastructure and climate change, and the various issues it is deliberating, such as multilateral reforms, food and energy security, counter-terrorism, new and emerging threats, global skill mapping, and disaster risk reduction, among others, are of particular interest for the African region, wrote NewsonAir.

Notably, the developments undertaken in the health and education domains by the G20 are also significant for African nations. Prioritising reforms of multilateral development banks is yet another issue that is crucial for India and the Global South. Further, as said by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, “Digital technology can be a key tool for inclusion, advance governance, better service delivery and promote inclusion of all sections of society.” The G20 has been working on Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Skilling as key priority areas.

Africa represents the voice of around 1.37 billion people, and leaving them out of the decision-making table is detrimental to global sustainable economic growth.

According to a report by Gurjit Singh of the Observer Research Foundation, India’s G20 presidency can potentially give India’s Africa policy a further fillip. A refurbished Africa policy will burnish the G20 Presidency with India as the voice of the Global South (VOGS).

During the Modi years, the successful India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS III) with the participation of all 54 African countries, started revitalising the Africa policy. Modi’s visits to Africa in 2016 and 2018 and the enunciation of the 10 principles for Africa in Uganda in 2018 were important initiatives. These require a post-pandemic and post-Ukraine crisis reassessment. Signs of this are visible, with the External Affairs Minister (EAM) visiting Uganda and Mozambique. When in South Africa for the BRICS ministers meeting, he will have the opportunity to visit other African countries.

Since India is the voice of the Global South, speaking up for Africa, in particular, is important. Africa suffered deeply from the consequences of the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. The participation of African countries in the VOGS summit showed their expectations and the potential for the fulfilment of the said expectations through India’s G20 presidency.

India and Africa have had a long and thriving partnership and shared strong civilizational and historical links. Anti-colonial solidarity, diasporic goodwill, and the principle of ‘South-South’ cooperation, among others, are also playing a significant role in strengthening the partnership between India and the African continent, NewsonAir underlined.

The statement made by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that India believes Africa’s growth and progress is intrinsic to global rebalancing itself justifies that African development is significant for India’s Foreign Policy.

Notably, India’s engagement with Africa has been consistent and regular in recent years. India allocated Rs 250 crore for African countries in its Budget for 2023-24.

Further, India’s bilateral trade with Africa is around USD 89.5 billion in 2021-22, and its cumulative investments are USD 73.9 billion from 1996-2021, thereby making India among the top five investors in Africa. (ANI)

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Australia backs India’s G20 presidency

Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell says India understands need to deliver equitable, sustainable growth across the world…reports Asian Lite News

Australia strongly supports India’s G-20 presidency because of its understanding of the need to deliver equitable, sustainable growth across the world, High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said on Monday.

Farrell said, “Why the G-20 is so important this year and one of the reasons that Australia so strongly supports India’s G-20 presidency is because of its understanding of the need to deliver equitable, sustainable growth across the world.”

“And India’s focus on sustainable development goals as part of its G20 presidency is something that Australia welcomes, something that Australia is working hard within the G20 this year to help India achieve it,” he added.

Talking about the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Australia’s High Commissioner said that his country is very clear and they condemn Moscow’s invasion.

The war is not only costing lives in Ukraine and in Russia but it’s also added to the economic challenges across the world.

In the recent report of Defence Strategic Review 2023, Australia stated that its country needs to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with key powers, including India, and invest in regional architecture.

Over that report, Farrell said, “The great thing about our Defense Review is that it again highlights that India and Australia are the two largest coastlines that exist within the Indo-Pacific, and it calls for greater cooperation, greater collaboration, greater exercises, and greater commitment. And the good news is that’s happening.”

“My Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Defence Minister was the first minister to visit India after the change of government, last year. He met with Rajnath Singh and committed to further ongoing exercises between both our countries, recognizing that we had a role to play in ensuring that our navies worked and defence forces worked closely together,” he added.

The Australian High Commissioner to India further stated that over the past 12 months, people have seen various Australian military heads coming to India.

India and Australia are also seeing more joint exercises designed to improve the cooperation between both countries’ militaries so that whether an emergency like the tsunami from which the Quad grew, both would be better able to look after the region, he added. (ANI)

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‘G20 outcome under India’s presidency will be unprecedented’

The summit will be attended by over 40 Heads of State, Heads of Government and international organisations…reports Asian Lite News

The G20 outcome under India’s Presidency will be unprecedented, veteran diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said as he underlined that the international community sees India as one country that is up to the challenge of providing solutions to current global problems.

The G20 is the “most significant” international event India has hosted since its independence, Mr Shringla, the Chief Coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency and former Foreign Secretary, said.

He addressed prominent members of the Indian-American and diaspora community on Tuesday at the launch event of his biography ‘Not An Accidental Rise’.

Former US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal were among the special guests at the event hosted by Jaipur Foot USA, a subsidiary of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS).

India assumed the year-long presidency of the G20 on December 1 last year and is hosting over 200 meetings and related events in cities across the country that will culminate in a global Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in September.

The summit will be attended by over 40 Heads of State, Heads of Government and international organisations.

A G20 Leaders’ Declaration will be adopted at the conclusion of the New Delhi Summit, stating “Leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings.” “I have no doubt that the Summit that India will host and the outcome that we will deliver at the time of the G20 will be unprecedented,” Shringla said.

He said the world is currently facing difficult times where the only certainty is uncertainty.

“Many of our partners in the international community feel that if there is one country that is up to the challenge of providing solutions to global situations that have emerged today, it is India,” he said.

India will deliver in entirety to the international community’s expectations, in particular the Global South, of which “we are a part and have been a voice of,” he said.

Shringla also highlighted that about 100 G20 meetings have already been hosted across India with each meeting witnessing rejuvenation of that particular city and region, urban transformation and beautification.

It witnessed involvement at the public and grassroots level of people who have never known what G20 is, but known this is something big for India and are happy to be a part of the effort, he said.

“Bringing G20 to the grassroots level through ‘Jan Bhagidari’ has been a major objective and one that has been achieved quite well,” he said.

Earlier this month, the book ‘Not An Accidental Rise’, written by Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Sikkim University, Gangtok Dr Dipmala Roka was launched in Darjeeling.

Shringla noted that the book is a “well researched” and “candid” account “not just of my career, but my entire life, so far.” Shringla, who was India’s ambassador to the US and later the Foreign Secretary when Juster was Washington’s envoy in New Delhi from 2017–2021, recalled working very closely with his American counterpart on a host of issues, including some challenging situations.

“It was a difficult time. There was shock upon shock. We not only had the Covid-19 crisis, we also had multiple transgressions on our western border from our neighbour China. We had a shock on our western borders that is Afghanistan and “another shock on the eastern border with the situation in Myanmar as well as the Ukraine conflict,” he said.

Juster recalled working closely with Shringla on a range of issues, with the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in 2019 being among the “most notable” when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then US President Donald Trump addressed over 50,000 people from the diaspora community in a stadium in Houston.

Juster added that he and Shringla also cooperated and worked together during the Covid-19 crisis, as well as during the Chinese standoff.

“It has always been a tremendous privilege to work with someone who has represented his own country extremely well and with someone you can discuss issues candidly and you can work together to solve problems in the best interest of both of our countries,” Juster said.

Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari described Shringla as the “People’s Ambassador” and the “People’s Foreign Secretary”.

Bhandari expressed gratitude for the consistent support Shringla provided to the millions of people of Indian origin in America as well as around the world, particularly during crises such as the Covid pandemic, on issues related to OCI cards and evacuation of Indians from Ukraine in the aftermath of the conflict.

“He is the darling of 40 million NRIs throughout the world,” Bhandari said. Shringla noted that the book also deals with the aspect of people-to-people ties between India and the US.

“The community has been our mainstay and main support. Much of what we have achieved, from the nuclear deal to what we have achieved in the recent past, can be attributed to the wholehearted support from the Indian-American community,” Shringla said.

Shringla also lauded Bhandari’s efforts to help the community, saying he has been a “pillar of support” during difficult times, particularly during the devastating years of the Covid-19 pandemic when Bhandari helped send much-needed ventilators and concentrators to India.

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India’s G20 Presidency will create a better planet, says Modi

Millet-based dishes have been included in the menu and various cultural performances and excursions have been organized…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India’s G20 Presidency is guided by the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and in line with ”Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.’ PM Modi stated that India’s G20 Presidency has worked to “further global good and create a better planet.”

Taking to his official Twitter handle, he stated, “Guided by the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and in line with our ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India’s G20 Presidency has worked to further global good and create a better planet.” His tweet came in response to G20 India’s tweet on the microblogging site. G20 India in a tweet said that India’s G20 Presidency has reached its 100th event with the meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists in Varanasi on Monday. Notably, India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022 and will continue until November 30, 2023.

“India’s #G20 Presidency reaches its th event with Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists in #Varanasi today! Midway in its journey, #G20India is a mass movement that has provided unique experiences to 12000+ delegates & brought the world to every corner of India!,” G20 India tweeted.

In another tweet, G20 India noted that India through the G20 events demonstrates its cultural heritage and diversity, tourism potential, development and determination to the world.

G20 India tweeted, “Through events, India showcased its cultural heritage & diversity, tourism potential, development & determination to the world. #G20India in numbers: 41 Cities 28 States & UTs 12,000+ delegates 111 nationalities 7000 artists.”

India celebrated a key milestone in the G20 Presidency on Monday with the hosting of its 100th G20 meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the press release. The MEA noted that in-person participation during India’s G20 Presidency is among the largest ever.

“In-person participation during India’s G20 Presidency is among the largest ever. Over 12,300 delegates, from over 110 nationalities have attended G20-related meetings so far. This includes participation from G20 members, 9 invitee countries and 14 international organizations,” the MEA said in the press release.

It further said, “As on date, the 100 G20 meetings have been held in 41 cities, covering 28 States and Union Territories. Meetings are being organized across the length and breadth of India with the full support and participation of State Governments and Union Territories.”

India during its G20 Presidency will be hosting foreign delegates for more than 200 G20-related meetings in around 60 cities across India, according to an MEA press release. All 13 Sherpa Track Working Groups, 8 Finance Track Workstreams, 11 Engagement Groups and 4 Initiatives have embarked on substantive interactions.

The MEA in the press release said, “A new Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), a new Engagement Group “Startup 20″ and a new Initiative Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable (CSAR) have been operationalized in our G20 Presidency. The 11 Engagement Groups provide a platform for dialogue among the private sector, academia, civil society, youth and women, as well as institutions including the Parliaments, audit authorities and urban administrations.”

During its G20 Presidency, India is amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing nations. According to MEA, unique experiences demonstrating India’s diversity, inclusive traditions and cultural richness are an integral part of the visiting delegates’ programme. Millet-based dishes have been included in the menu and various cultural performances and excursions have been organized.

“Over 150 cultural events, with the participation of over 7,000 artists, showcasing local and national art forms, have been held. Many Jan Bhagidari activities are also being simultaneously held with active public participation in a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach, making India’s G20 Presidency a ‘People’s G20’,” the MEA said in the press release.

The MEA further said, “These include G20 University Connect lecture series, Model G20 meetings, Special G20 sessions in Schools/Universities, G20 Pavilions in major festivals, Quiz contests, Selfie competitions, #G20India stories, and hundreds of other G20-theme events by the civil society and private sector.” (ANI)

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Kant lauds India’s G20 presidency  

Providing a vision and way forward, Kant outlined the strategies for change as India takes over the leadership of the G20…reports Asian Lite News

G20 Presidency of India aims for inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth, Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India said at the Distinguished Public Lecture entitled: ‘India’s Presidency of G20: The Way Forward’ to mark the inauguration of the Jindal Global Centre for G20 Studies at OP Jindal Global University (JGU).

Amitabh Kant dwelt on a wide-ranging overview outlining India’s political and development narratives, key priorities, initiatives to reshape and reconfigure the world and how India is planning to execute the meetings for G20 ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in September 2023. “G20 is important because it comprises of about 85 per cent of the global GDP and about 78 per cent of the global trade, 90 per cent of the patents in the world and nearly two-thirds of the global population. The G20 Presidency moves from one country to another every year and different countries have different perspectives and priorities. It is very important to study, examine and analyse this as G20 is essentially an economic group for development and growth.” 

“This is a period of great upheaval and turbulence across the world. The post-Covid era has seen nearly 200 million people fall below the poverty line. Nearly two decades of work done to alleviate poverty has been eliminated while a third of the world is facing recession. There’s a challenge with almost 75 countries in the world facing a global debt crisis. And on top of all this, there’s a huge challenge of climate action and climate finance. There is a geopolitical crisis in Europe right now with a war going on for over a year and in addition to all this, you’ve seen the financial crisis or the Silicon Valley Bank collapses in the United States of America and the cascading impact that you can have in other parts of the world.”

Providing a vision and way forward, Kant outlined the strategies for change as India takes over the leadership of the G20. “The first and foremost is the political narrative which India puts forward, the second is the priorities to shape the world and thirdly how well do we execute this presidency on ground. It’s important to understand this because in the last few years, India has done a huge amount of digital transformation. India today does about 11 times more payments than what United States and Europe do together. During COVID, we provided 2 billion vaccinations to our citizens, which was all done digitally. A study by the Bank of International Settlements said that (the digital milestones) India has achieved in the last eight years, what would normally have taken 50 years.”

“Regarding our priorities for G20, the world is facing huge recessionary trends across the world. It’s important that we talk about inclusive, sustainable growth, because without growth we will not be able to lift people above the poverty line and growth alone will have a huge impact on the lives of citizens in the global south. India aims to work with the rest of the world to drive inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth,” Kant outlined. “Thirdly, we face the challenge of climate action and climate finance. As India becomes more industrialized, we will become the third biggest polluters in the world. And therefore India must become the first country in the world to industrialize without carbonizing the world.”  (ANI)

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India holds 100th G20 meeting under its presidency

Throughout India’s Presidency, more than 200 meetings in around 60 cities across India are still being planned, making it the widest geographical spread…reports Asian Lite News

India on Monday with its inclusive and action-oriented policy processes at the heart of its agenda celebrated a key milestone of hosting its 100th meeting under its G20 Presidency with the meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi.

The G20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s 20 major developed and developing economies, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation. With more than 12,300 delegates from over 110 nations, the in-person participation in India’s G20 Presidency is the largest ever hosted by any G20 country so far.

Throughout India’s Presidency, more than 200 meetings in around 60 cities across India are still being planned, making it the widest geographical spread.

India’s G20 presidency inclusive pan-India approach, centred on Jan Bhagidari or citizen’s engagement has so far covered over 41 cities, with around a dozen meetings held in the North Eastern part of the country. The meetings have also been successful in showcasing India’s incredible natural and architectural beauty through excursions, side events and more than 1500 cultural events with around 7000 artists performing.

The meetings include Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in Varanasi, the second Health Working Group in Goa, the 2nd Digital Economy Working Group in Hyderabad and the Space Economy Leaders’ Precursor Meeting in Shillong which is being held on Monday.

With the first Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (FMCBG) in Bengaluru on February 24-25, the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) in New Delhi on March 1-3, and the second FMCBG meeting in Washington on April 12-13, three ministerial meetings have been held till date under India as G20 Chair along with the two Sherpa Meetings in Udaipur from December 4-7 December last year and Kumarakom from March 30 – April 2.

28 Foreign Ministers (from 18 G20 members, 9 guest countries and AU Chai- Comoros) and two Deputy/Vice Foreign Ministers (from Japan and the Republic of Korea) attended the FMM. These Ministerial meetings concluded with substantive outcome documents that fostered consensus on G20’s shared priorities.

These include consensus on setting up of an expert group on MDB reforms and on debt treatment in the 1st FMCBG, and on multilateral reforms, development cooperation, food and energy security, counter-terrorism, new and emerging threats, global skill mapping and disaster risk reduction in the FMM.

Showcasing India’s diversity, traditions and culture also remains an integral part of the visiting delegates’ programme. With Millet-based dishes being incorporated into the menu, a wide range of cultural performances and excursions have been organized.

The impact of India’s G20 Presidency gave a boost for Covid-hit sectors, a surge in demand for operators, guides and drivers in terms of boosting tourism, and also giving a boost to small businesses that brought global buyers at sellers’ doorstops.

India’s ongoing G20 Presidency comprise broad priority areas such as inclusive and resilient growth; progress on SDGs, green development and Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE); technological transformation and public digital infrastructure; reforming multilateral institutions; women-led development; and international peace and harmony.

India during its G20 presidency will host the largest-ever contingent of delegations in the final New Delhi Summit that will take place in September. Taking the baton from Indonesia,

India’s year-long Presidency of the grouping commenced on 1 December 2022, and would continue until 30 November 2023.

Collectively, the G20 accounts for 85 per cent of global GDP, 75 pc of international trade and two-thirds of the world population, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

Over 12,000 delegates from 111 countries participated in 100 meetings

India’s G20 Presidency Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday said over 12,000 delegates from 111 countries have participated in 100 G20 meetings hosted by India so far.

“We have started our hundredth meeting under our presidency. If you take the approximate number of meetings that we will cover under our presidency as 200, we have reached an approximate halfway mark in terms of the meetings we’re holding,” Shringla said. He said: “Now if you look at the 100 meetings we have held, we have had these meetings in 41 different cities across the length and breadth of our country. It covers 28 states and union territories.”

The G20 Chief Coordinator said that over 12,000 delegates have participated in these meetings. “And I think that’s a conservative figure and 111 nationalities have been represented in these meetings that we have held under our presidency. So, both in terms of geographical spread in our country, in terms of the participants within the G20, there have been some very good discussions in most of the meetings,” he said.

According to Shringla, India has made good progress on several important issues of priority. “And as we proceed further, I think we will be seeing more of the outcomes of some of these meetings. But what is important is that today, I think we can take satisfaction over the fact that organizationally and in terms of logistics, I think the meetings have proceeded very well,” he said. (ANI)

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India’s G20 Presidency reaches milestone

India’s G20 Presidency is in the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or the ‘World is One Family’…reports Asian Lite News

India’s G20 Presidency reached a milestone on Tuesday as it marked a half-century of G20 meets. Three meets commenced today in Mumbai, Vizag and Ramnagar, taking the total to 50.

So far under India’s G20 Presidency which assumed on December 1, 2022, two Ministerial, one Sherpa, 23 Working Groups, 20 Engagement Groups, and one Curtain Raiser were held, leaving aside about 30 University Connect and dozens of Janbhagidari events that were held. India assumed the G20 Presidency from Indonesia on December 01 last year and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time later this year. India’s Presidency will continue till November 30, 2023.

India’s G20 Presidency is in the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or the ‘World is One Family’.

The Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and the US and the European Union.

The G20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues.

It was upgraded to the level of Heads of State/Government in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis of 2007, and, in 2009, was designated the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”. (ANI)

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