India Successfully Hosts G20 Summit
G20 Summit in Delhi: AU joins, peace declaration, economic corridor MOU, UK's $2B for climate, protocol breach.
The G20 Summit was held in Delhi on 8th and 9th September 2023. Top world leaders attended the event. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed world leaders as he inaugurated the two-day G20 Leaders’ Summit. Mr. Modi earlier welcomed more than four dozen leaders at the sprawling international convention and exhibition centre – Bharat Mandapam – in the capital. He greeted each member, shaking hands and posing for the cameras. US President Joe Biden, who seemed curious at the backdrop depicting the wheel of the 13th century Konark Sun Temple that is located in the eastern state of Odisha, learnt of its significance from Mr Modi. The two leaders had briefly met at Mr Modi's residence and held talks, moments after Mr Biden had landed. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed was also greeted by the prime minister. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who injured his eyes during a jogging incident, arrived at the summit wearing an eye patch.
Here are some highlights so far:
1. During the inaugural session of the two-day G20 Summit, the African Union (AU) was granted permanent membership in the Group of 20 largest economies (G20) worldwide.
2. The G20 also adopted the New Delhi Leaders Summit Declaration. Asserting that "today's era must not be of war", the New Delhi Declaration of G20 countries called on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty and said the peaceful resolution of conflicts as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical.
3. At the G20 Summit, India, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
4. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi that Britain will commit to providing $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help developing countries cope with climate change.
5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 Presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which marked the end of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
On Sunday, 10 September, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited Rajghat, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 30 other world leaders. They paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He then visited Delhi's Akshardham temple. There, the couple performed an aarti and pooja and offered their prayers. As the President of India Draupadi Murmu hosted a G20 dinner for world leaders and dignitaries, chief ministers of all states were also invited. Although many chief ministers of the opposition INDIA bloc attended the G20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, a number of others, including three from states ruled by the Congress, stayed away. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin attended the dinner and shared candid moments with global leaders. Mamata Banerjee’s aide said, “If Congress chief ministers such as Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and Siddaramaiah (Karnataka) and Kerala chief minister Pinarai Vijayan boycott the event, it is their problem. We can’t toe the Congress’ line on all issues. There is no scope of politics in the G20 dinner hosted by the President of India.” In a breach of protocol during the G20 Summit, a car from US President Joe Biden's convoy entered a New Delhi hotel where the UAE Crown Prince was staying. The security breach at Hotel Taj on Saturday morning initially sent the security agencies into a frenzy. But after questioning the driver, they found that he had decided to ply his other customers before going to Mr Biden's hotel. After two days of heavy rain in Delhi, visuals of a flooded Bharat Mandapan, the venue for India's G20 Summit went viral on social media.
