Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the opening meeting of the foreign ministers of G20 on Thursday, highlighting the deep global divisions and the crisis facing multilateralism.Â
The PM drew attention to the fact that many developing countries are struggling with unsustainable debt while trying to ensure food and energy security for their people. These countries are also the ones most affected by global warming caused by richer countries. PM Modi added that India’s G20 presidency aimed to give a voice to the Global South. Furthermore, he added, no group can claim to be global leaders without helping and listening to those most affected.
PM Modi at G20 meet
The global governance system established after World War II had two objectives: firstly, to prevent future wars by balancing competing interests, and secondly, to encourage international cooperation on matters of mutual concern. The experience of the last few years – financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and wars – clearly shows that global governance has failed in both its mandate, the PM noted.
However, resolutions for issues that cannot be addressed together should not come in the way of those that can be resolved, Modi said. The PM also highlighted the thousands of lives lost in natural disasters and the disastrous pandemic that the world faced, noting how global supply chains have broken down during times of stress and turmoil. According to the Prime Minister, the G20 has a crucial responsibility in striking a balance between growth and efficiency on one hand and resilience on the other, and this can be achieved through collaboration.
The meeting of G20 foreign ministers commenced with a minute of silence as a mark of respect for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. Modi underlined that the meeting was taking place in the land of Gandhi and the Buddha, urging the excellencies to draw inspiration from India’s civilizational ethos of focusing not on what divides us but on what unites us all.
The PM stressed the need to show resilience in our societies, economies, healthcare systems, and infrastructure, observing that stable economies were suddenly overwhelmed by debt and financial crisis.
Concluding the address, the PM expressed confidence in the collective wisdom and ability and hoped that today’s meeting would turn out to be ambitious, inclusive and action-oriented where resolutions are made while rising above differences. The Indian G20 presidency’s theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” highlights the significance of having a common objective and taking collective action.
India’s G20 presidency aims to focus on some of the pressing issues affecting the world today. The G20, Modi noted, has the capacity to ease the challenges of growth, development, economic resilience, disaster resilience, financial stability, transnational crime, corruption, terrorism, and food and energy security. The world looks to the G20 for solutions to these issues.
The G20 has a crucial role in building consensus and delivering concrete results. The G20 FM meeting will work towards a common goal of a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable global economy. India’s leadership in the G20 will play a critical role in shaping the future of global governance.
