New Delhi, Dec 01, 2022, By Special Correspondent
New Delhi, Dec 1: India formally assumed the G-20 presidency on Thursday for one year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi noting that India’s G20 agenda will be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive.
In his op-ed, in several newspapers today, December 1, PM Modi said that India’s G20 presidency will work to promote this universal sense of oneness, and hence India's theme is One Earth, One Family, One Future.
The Prime Minister said this is not just a slogan but it takes into account recent changes in human circumstances, which we have collectively failed to appreciate.
He also urged the citizens to join together to make India’s G20 presidency a presidency of healing, harmony, and hope.
The PM added that during the G20 presidency, India shall present its experiences, learnings, and models as possible templates for others, particularly the developing world.
Several events will be held across the country including the lighting of 100 monuments with the G-20 logo to mark the occasion.
Touching upon the issue of environment and sustainability, the prime minister said for the healing of the planet, India will encourage sustainable and environment-friendly lifestyles, based on its tradition of trusteeship towards nature.
He said for promoting harmony within the human family, India will seek to depoliticise the global supply of food, fertilisers, and medical products so that geopolitical tensions do not lead to humanitarian crises.
The Prime Minister said that India will encourage an honest conversation among the most powerful countries on mitigating risks posed by weapons of mass destruction and enhancing global security.
He said India's G20 priorities will be shaped in consultation with not just our G20 partners, but also our fellow travellers in the global South, whose voice often goes unheard.
He said that the previous 17 presidencies of the G20 delivered significant results, which includes ensuring macro-economic stability, rationalising international taxation, and relieving the debt burden of countries, among many others, and India will benefit from these achievements, and build further upon them.
The Group of 20 is a premier forum comprising world’s advanced and developing economies, as well as the European Union, which meets every year to discuss global issues.
The Presidency was symbolically handed over to Prime Minister Modi by Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the closing session of the G20 Summit in Bali last month.
Modi had said at the Summit that India is taking charge of the G20 at a time when the world is grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices and the long-term ill-effects of the COVID pandemic.
He had assured the world leaders that India's presidency of G20 will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented.
India’s start of the presidency will be marked by several people-centric activities. It includes “University Connect” programme where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address students from 75 universities across the country virtually.
The function will be held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi. As many as 100 monuments will be illuminated up across the country with the G20 logo.
"The theme of India’s G20 Presidency is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or One Earth One Family One Future. The theme affirms the value of all life - human, animal, plant, and micro-organisms and their inter-connectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. It will be a big opportunity for India as the country will get a global center stage.
During the course of its Presidency, India will be holding about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across the country.