PM Modi hands over G20 presidency to Brazil as summit draws to close

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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