Global Leaders Conclude G20 Summit in New Delhi: Inclusion and Progress

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New Delhi: The G20 Leaders’ G20 Summit, hosted by India, saw its conclusion on Sunday, September 10, in the nation’s capital. It resulted in two crucial announcements, along with a series of bilateral meetings.

The first major announcement involved the inclusion of the African Union into the G20 club. The second was arriving at a consensus on the New Delhi Declaration.

The ending of the session saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi propose a virtual G20 session in November, following which, Brazil will assume presidency. During the ceremonial transfer, Modi passed the gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who praised India for its role in bringing together emerging economies on to the centre stage.

Through a message on Twitter (X), Modi emphasised in the last session on “One Future”, the importance of switching from the GDP-centric approach to a human-centric vision of progress, calling the former outdated. “Time has come to adopt a human-centric vision of progress. India has been making several efforts in this regard, particularly in areas of data and technology,” he said.

Throughout the day, bilateral meetings were held with various countries, including France, Brazil, Turkey, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Nigeria, Comoros, and the European Commission and Council. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned the topic of Khalistani extremism and “foreign interference” was discussed during his meeting with Modi. He emphasised that “the actions of a few do not represent the entire community or Canada.”

India and France, who are working to establish a partnership on advanced nuclear technology, came to a conclusion on the Defence Industrial Roadmap.

French President Emmanuel Macron pointed out that generally the G20 summit addresses international economic issues and therefore was not the ideal platform for diplomatic progress on the Ukraine conflict. He expressed his disappointment with the climate outcomes of the G20 Summit.

US President Joe Biden, who departed for Vietnam post his visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat, stressed the importance of enhancing alliances globally and maintaining stability. In a press conference in Vietnam, he said, “I don’t want to contain China. I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away.’’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concluded that the summit was a success for both India and the Global South.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Adviser, lauded the summit declaration, which according to him, stood up against the use of force for territorial acquisition and protecting the sovereignty and independence of nations. The declaration also received support from the UK and Germany.

However, Ukraine expressed disappointment in the declaration, saying it was not a matter of pride. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could threaten the foundation of cooperation at the summit.

The absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit, highlighted the geopolitical tensions surrounding the 18th G20 Leader’s Summit.

In terms of economic discussions, the Indian finance ministry officials addressed inquiries from the media regarding the regulation of crypto assets. India has plans to hold extensive consultations and discussions on crypto asset regulation, following the New Delhi Declaration’s endorsement of a synthesis note by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Board. The question of a potential ban of crypto assets was not confirmed as the officials indicated that India would align with the global consensus.