New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold over 15 bilateral meetings with world leaders as they descend on New Delhi this weekend to participate in the final summit of the year-long Group of 20 (G20) events under India’s presidency.
Around 30 heads of state and governments from G20 members and invited countries will be in Delhi on 9 and 10 September, among them U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK’s Rishi Sunak and Japan’s Fumio Kishida.
Modi is expected to hold talks with Biden Friday evening, shortly after he arrives in the capital.
Modi will also meet Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jagnauth and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday evening.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Thursday. that the White House expects to see meaningful progress on GE jet engines and civil nuclear technology in the bilateral talks.
President of the European Council at the European Union Charles Michel told reporters in Delhi Friday that Narendra Modi had asked a question — “Can the G20 go further? Can we shift our fundamental mindset for the benefit of all humanity?”
He said the G20 believes it can and therefore would work towards “making the world a favourable place for everyone no matter where they live”.
Michel also said that on the table this weekend were “the existential challenges of climate change, floods, droughts, high temperatures, which are threats to humanity’s survival”.
In light of these discussions, it is crucial to address the existential challenges posed by climate change that were highlighted during the summit, as they remain a significant concern for global leaders.
Meanwhile, it is uncertain whether the summit will result in a joint declaration as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have skipped the event, while the invasion of Ukraine continues to remain a sticky point in this West-heavy alliance.
The whole of Delhi is under a tight blanket of security and strict curbs have been put on citizen movement, particularly near the meeting venue “Bharat Mandapam” in Pragati Maidan, and also around hotels where dignitaries will be staying.
In the past year, India held more than 200 meetings across some 50 cities involving ministers, officials and civil society, leading up to this weekend’s Leaders’ Summit in the capital.
The G20 member countries represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).
This year the G20 is likely to grant full membership to the African Union, a move that will give it the same status as the EU, from its current designation of “invited international organisation”.
Brazil is up next for the presidency, to be followed by South Africa in 2025.
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