NEW DELHI: India’s G20 presidency achieved a significant milestone as it held its 100th meeting under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 17.
In a tweet, the PM stated that India’s G20 presidency has been working towards promoting global good and creating a better planet, guided by the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and in line with the country’s ethos of ‘VasudhaivaKutumbakam’.
Lauding India’s G20 presidency as “cooperative federalism, & a commitment to intergovernmental cooperation, collaborative decision-making & human-centric development”, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant tweeted an article he wrote for a national daily.
Highest participation
Briefing the media, G20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla disclosed that over 12,300 delegates from 111 nationalities had attended G20-related meetings so far, making it the presidency’s highest in-person participation ever.
Shringla added that India’s G20 presidency has been inclusive and has been intended to have over 200 meetings in 60 cities across India. “On the whole we intend to have 200-plus meetings in 60 cities across India… The 100th meeting is the Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) being held now in Varanasi,” he said.
India’s G20 Presidency theme is ‘VasudhaivaKutumbakam’ (One Earth. One Family.One Future), which symbolises the country’s pro-planet approach and growth amidst challenges. The presidency was handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 16, 2022 and will continue until November 30, 2023.
Bhagidari activities
According to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, many Jan Bhagidari activities are also being simultaneously held with active public participation in a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach, making India’s G20 presidency a ‘People’s G20.’
Unique experiences showcasing India’s diversity, inclusive traditions, and cultural richness are an integral part of the visiting delegates’ programme. Over 150 cultural events, with the participation of over 7,000 artists, showcasing local and national art forms, have been held.
Till date, three ministerial meetings have been held. The first Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting was held in Bengaluru on February 24-25, the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting was held in New Delhi on March 1-2, and the second FMCBG meeting was held in Washington DC on April 12-13. Two Sherpa Meetings have been held in Udaipur and Kumarakom.
Substantive deliberations during India’s ongoing G20 presidency comprise broad priority areas such as inclusive and resilient growth; progress on SDGs, green development and Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE); technological transformation and public digital infrastructure; reforming multilateral institutions; women led development; and international peace and harmony.
