PM Modi hands over G20 presidency to Brazil as summit draws to close
The prime minister also proposed G20 virtual summit in November end to review progress on matters decided in this summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 10) announced the closure of the two-day G20 Summit after handing over the gavel of G20 presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“I congratulate Brazilian President and my friend Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva," said PM Modi as he handed over G20 presidency to Brazil. Responding to it, Brazilian President Lula said, “I congratulate PM Modi for efficiently leading G20 bloc and for excellent work in this summit.”
PM Modi also proposed a virtual session of the G20 around the end of November to take stock of the suggestions and decisions made at the leaders’ summit that concluded in New Delhi on Sunday. In his concluding remarks at the final session of the two-day G20 summit here, Modi noted that India's presidency of G20 would officially continue till November 30 and over two-and-half months were left for its tenure as the head of the grouping. “It is my proposal that we hold another session of the G20 virtually in November-end. In that session, we can review the issues that have been agreed upon during this summit. Our teams will share the details of it with all of view. I hope all of you will join this (session),” he said. “With this I declare the G20 summit as closed,” Modi said while citing a Sanskrit shloka to pray for hope and peace in entire world.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi made a fresh push for reforms in global institutions, including the United Nations, asserting that the world's “new realities” should be reflected in “new global structure” as it is nature’s law that those who don't change with times lose their relevance. “It is necessary the global bodies should reflect today's realities to lead the world towards a better future,” Modi said at the ‘One Future’ session in the G20 Summit, citing the United Nations Security Council as an example for a body needing change. He said the world was totally different when the UN was established with 51 founding members as their numbers have now risen to nearly 200.
“Despite this, the number of permanent members in the UNSC remains the same. The world has since changed a lot in every aspect. Be it transport, communication, health and education, every sector has been transformed. These new realities should reflect in our new global structure,” he said.
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9 Sept 2023 6:48 AM ISTPM Modi, Biden hold fruitful talks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden on Friday (September 9) stressed the importance of the Quad grouping in supporting a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific.
A joint statement issued after bilateral talks between the two leaders also said the Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming the US President to the next Quad Leaders' Summit to be hosted by India in 2024.
The Quad, comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, has been focusing on practical cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's increasing military muscle-flexing in the region.
Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also pledged to sustain the high-level of engagement between their governments, industries, and academic institutions and realize their ambitious vision for an enduring India-US partnership that advances the aspirations of their people for a bright and prosperous future, serves the global good, and contributes to a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific, the statement said.
The joint statement was issued after comprehensive talks between Modi and Biden to further economic and people-to-people bilateral linkages with the Prime Minister, asserting that the friendship between the two nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good.
India welcomed the US decision to co-lead the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Pillar on Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport, further to the US decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in June 2023, it said.
- 8 Sept 2023 9:47 PM IST
Will not rush into signing trade deal with India, says Rishi Sunak
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said there is progress in talks between India and Britain on a free trade agreement, but he "won't rush" into the trade deal, according to a report by BBC. Sunak is attending the G20 Summit.The remarks assume significance as the 12th round of talks concluded last month between the two countries' officials. The talks for the agreement were launched in January 2022.According to the report, Sunak said he would not set a deadline for the conclusion of negotiations.Progress has been made, but “we are not there yet,” the BBC report said quoting the UK Prime minister."I won't rush things for the sake of it until they're right for us," he added. - 8 Sept 2023 8:02 PM IST
India 'very important', but it is for members to decide on its UNSC membership: Guterres
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Friday described India as "the country of the world" and a "very important" partner in the multilateral system but said it is for the members and not him to decide on its UN Security Council membership.Addressing a press conference in Delhi ahead of the G20 Summit, he made a strong pitch for immediate reforms to UNSC and other multilateral institutions, as he asserted that the future of the world is multipolar but "our multilateral institutions reflect a bygone age".Asked whether it was time for India to become a member of the UNSC, he said, "It is not for me to decide who would be in UNSC, it is for the members." "But it is obvious that India is today the country of the world with the largest population and it is a very important partner in the multilateral system," he said. - 8 Sept 2023 8:00 PM IST
Biden, Modi to hold bilateral talks
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. During the meeting, the two leaders are likely to review the progress made on the decisions that they took during the prime minister's official state visit to Washington in June.
The US president will follow COVID-19 guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during his visit for the G20 Summit, the White House has said.
- 8 Sept 2023 7:57 PM IST
Not hopeful of Ukraine-Russia peace solution in immediate future: UN chief Guterres
Addressing a press conference in Delhi ahead of the G20 summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Russia and Ukraine still do not appear to be ending the conflict.
Asked whether India could mediate to end the war, he said, "When you have a conflict, all efforts of mediation are welcome.... (But) I am not very hopeful that we will have a peace solution in the immediate future." On the need for reforms to multilateral institutions, Guterres said when these multilateral institutions were created, many of the countries of today did not even exist. This is true for the UNSC and many others," he said.
- 8 Sept 2023 7:44 PM IST
PM Modi to Spain President Pedro Sanchez: 'We shall miss your insightful views'
Spanish President Pedro Sanchez has tested positive for COVID-19 and won't travel to India. PM Narendra Modi wishes him a speedy recovery.
