G20 members briefed on priorities for India’s presidency
NEW DELHI: Senior diplomats from the G20 members were briefed on priorities for India’s G20 presidency, including digital infrastructure, climate action and multilateral reforms at a meeting held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Saturday.
Heads of missions and senior diplomats of the G20 members and nine guest countries invited to the G20 Summit in 2023 and representatives of international organisations such as the United Nations were part of the briefing held at Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The foreign delegates were flown to a resort at Swaraj Dweep, earlier known as Havelock Island, on Friday. The briefing covered shared priorities in areas public digital goods and digital infrastructure, climate action, climate finance and technology collaborations, sustainable, affordable and inclusive energy transition, accelerated progress on sustainable development goals, women-led development and multilateral reforms, the external affairs ministry said.
Indonesia formally handed over the leadership of the G20 to India at the summit held in Bali, and the country’s presidency will begin on December 1. The briefing for the heads of missions and senior diplomats was the first official activity related to G20 organised by India. More than 40 missions and international organisations participated in the programme.
They were given detailed briefings by India’s G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant and chief G20 coordinator Harsh Vardhan on the operational and logistical aspects of various interactions to be organised during India’s presidency.
The foreign delegates were informed of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India’s G20 presidency, as reflected in the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”. Kant recalled the prime minister’s statement at the G20 Summit in that India’s presidency will be “inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented”.
Shringla, a former foreign secretary, briefed the delegates about arrangements for G20 meetings across India. He noted that Saturday also marks India’s Constitution Day and the 14th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks, and pointed to the importance of facing global challenges together.
A representative of the department of economic affairs provided an overview on the finance track deliberations and India’s approach to these issues.
The OSD (Operations), Muktesh Pardeshi and additional secretary (G20) Abhay Thakur answered questions from the foreign delegates related to travel, visas, protocol, security and participation of invitees. The senior diplomats were also provided a briefing on the history, culture, environment and development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.