Ahead of the great summit, the United Nations (UN) had called on G20 nations to rescue stalled climate talks in Azerbaijan by pledging greater financial support to developing countries grappling with the devastating effects of global warming.

The Summit saw the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. It encapsulated the summit’s overarching theme: “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet”.

However, now, as per reliable agencies’ reports, the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro ended on November 18 without any progress on UN climate negotiations. The issue was overshadowed due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were among the leaders those attended the two-day 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit at Rio de Janeiro’s Modern Art Museum in Brazil.

PM Modi Shared the Focus on Women-led Development and Social Inclusion

PM Modi began his visit to Brazil after concluding a two-day trip to Nigeria.

Congratulating Brazil’s President Lula for the grand arrangements made for the G20 summit and his successful G20 Presidency, PM Modi shared that the people centric decisions taken at the G20 Summit in New Delhi have been taken forward during Brazil’s Presidency.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that we prioritized SDG goals. We focused on Inclusive development, women led development, and youth power, and gave wings to the hopes and aspirations of the Global south. It is clear that ‘One Earth One Family One Future’, is as relevant at this summit as it was last year.”

As per the theme of the first session, he shared India’s experiences and success stories: “Over the last 10 years we have lifted 250 million people out of poverty. Over 800 million people are being given food grains free of cost. 550 million people are benefiting from the world’s biggest health insurance scheme. Now, 60 million senior citizens, over the age of 70, will also be able to benefit from free health insurance.

Maintaining our focus on Women led development and social inclusion, over 300 million women micro entrepreneurs have been linked to banks and given access to credit. Under the world’s largest crop insurance scheme, over 40 million farmers have received benefits worth 20 billion US dollars.

Under the farmers scheme, assistance worth over 40 billion dollars has been given to 110 million farmers.” He added, “Institutional credit worth 300 billion US dollars is being given to farmers. India is not only ensuring food security but also focusing on Nutrition. The Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0 campaign which is an Integrated Nutrition Support Program, focuses in particular on nutrition for pregnant women, newborn babies, children under the age of 6, and adolescent girls. Through the Mid-Day Meal scheme special attention is being paid to the nutritional needs of school going children.”

Continuing he expressed: “India is also contributing to global food security. We have provided humanitarian assistance to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, recently. The main reason for our success is our approach: ‘back to basics’ and ‘march to the future’. We have focused not only on natural farming and organic farming but also on new technologies. We have focused on sustainable agriculture, protection of the environment, nutrition and food security by promoting Sri Ann or millets.”

He added: “We have developed over 2000 climate resilient crop varieties and have started the ‘Digital Agriculture Mission’. India’s Digital public Infrastructure enabled social and financial inclusion. With the Aspirational Districts and Blocks project we created a new model for inclusive development that strengthens the weakest link.”

“We support Brazil’s initiative for a ‘Global Alliance against hunger and poverty’. This is an important step towards the implementation of the Deccan High level principles for Food security, adopted at the New Delhi Summit. Finally, I would like to say that countries of the Global south are most adversely impacted by the food, fuel and fertilizer crisis caused by global conflicts. So, our discussions can only be successful when we keep in mind the challenges and priorities of the Global south.”

And just as we amplified the voice of the Global south by granting permanent membership of G20 to the African Union during the New Delhi Summit, we will reform institutions of global governance. I am confident that during the next session, there will be an even more detailed, positive discussion on this subject.

The prime minister made the remarks at the G20 session on ‘Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty’. The opening day’s highlight was the launch of a global alliance to combat poverty and hunger that has been supported by at least 80 nations.

In a post on ‘X’, PM Modi called the initiative “commendable” saying it marks a significant stride towards ensuring food security and uplifting vulnerable communities worldwide. “India assures full support to this effort.”

During the Summit, PM Modi also met the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy; President of Indonesia; Prime Ministers of Portugal, Norway, the UK and the President of France.

Joint Strategic Action Plan with Italy

With Italy a Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29 is announced which outlines their vision for the next five years. The Action Plan will pursue joint collaborations, programs and initiatives in key sectors of trade and investment, science and technology, new and emerging technologies, clean energy, space, defense, connectivity and people-to-people linkages.

PM Modi congratulated Indonesia’s new President Subianto on his assumption of office. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in the framework of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They discussed cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, defense and security, connectivity, tourism, health, and people-to-people ties.

PM Modi congratulated the PM of Portuguese Republic, H.E. Mr. Luís Montenegro. This was the first meeting between the two leaders. He conveyed his desire to work together to deepen and strengthen bilateral ties between India and Portugal. Both underscored the growing potential for collaboration in new and emerging areas such as IT and digital technologies, renewable energy, startups and innovation, and mobility of professionals and skilled workers. The leaders noted that the year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal. They also agreed to jointly celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.

While meeting with the Prime Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Store, both the Prime Ministers took stock of the progress in bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in various fields. Noting that the signing of the India – European Free Trade Association – Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (India-EFTA-TEPA) was an important milestone in bilateral relations, the two leaders reaffirmed its significance for attracting greater investments into India from EFTA countries, including Norway.

Bilateral discussions also focused on enhancing cooperation in areas like blue economy, renewable energy, green hydrogen, solar and wind projects, geo-thermal energy, green shipping, Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS), fisheries, space and the Arctic.

Indian and UK Prime Ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress in the bilateral relationships. Both reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a focus on economy, trade, new and emerging technologies, research and innovation, green finance and people-to-people contacts. Both leaders underlined the importance of resuming the Free Trade Agreement negotiations at an early date and expressed confidence in the ability of the negotiating teams, to address the remaining issues to mutual satisfaction, leading to a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking Free Trade Agreement.

Recognizing the ample opportunities for further engagement between the two sides in the light of growing bilateral economic and business relations and with a view to better serve the consular requirements of the Indian community in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of two new Consulates General of India in the United Kingdom in Belfast and Manchester. Prime Minister Starmer welcomed the announcement. The two leaders also agreed on the need to make progress on issues related to migration and mobility.  Britain says deal important to support jobs.

During the meeting, the two top leaders of France and India reaffirmed their commitment to advance the India-France Strategic Partnership as well as their shared vision for bilateral cooperation and international partnership, outlined in the Horizon 2047 roadmap and other bilateral declarations. They commended the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation, including in strategic areas such as defense, space and civil nuclear energy, and committed to accelerating it further with a view to reinforcing their shared commitment to strategic autonomy. They also reviewed the progress of cooperation on India’s National Museum project.

The two leaders commended the strengthening of trade, investment, and technology ties, including in the areas of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence, as well as India France partnership on Digital Public Infrastructure. In this context, Prime Minister welcomed the initiative of President Macron to organize the forthcoming AI Action Summit in France.

Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the Indo-Pacific. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together to reinvigorate and reform multilateralism and help build a stable international order.

Tirlok Aggarwal

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Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.

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