Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India had put the concerns of the Global South at the core of the agenda of the G20 Summit.
Jaishankar said that the agenda of the Global South, a term for the developing countries, was made central to the Group of 20 (G-20) as India believed despite the "deep distress" that these countries faced from first the Covid-19 pandemic and then the Ukraine War-induced disruptions, their issues were not adequately represented at the world stage.
India has emerged as the leading voice of the developing world at international stage. The granting of permanent membership to the African Union (AU) of the G20 is being seen as one of the achievements of the India's presidency of the grouping.
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Speaking to the media after the first day of the G20 Summit, Jaishankar also said that the emerging markets in the G20 came together to work significantly to bring consensus on Ukraine War.
Following the first day of meetings, the G20 members issued the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, which is being seen as a significant achievement of the Indian presidency as the grouping involves Russia and China which differ sharply on Ukraine War from the West. That a joint statement was issued with consensus is being seen as a success of Indian presidency.
Jaishankar said, "Due to ongoing conflict and strong views, significant time was spent in discussions on the Ukraine War. Emerging markets played a key role in building a consensus but everyone came together for the consensus."
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Elaborating on Jaishankar's comment, India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa came together with India to work significantly towards building the consensus.
"G20 Declaration without any footnote or chair's summary demonstrates India's ability to bring everybody to same table," said Kant.
Jaishankar and Kant addressed the press conference along with Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman. Highlighting the major achievements of the G20 Summit, Sitharaman said that "India walked the talk" on G20 Summit. As the G-20 remains primarily an economic grouping, having been formed in 1999 after the Asian Financial Crisis, the major focus of the press conference was also on the economic and financial outcomes of G20.
Sitharaman said that one of the outcomes of the summit was the support for the global framework for crypto assets, which are largely unregulated in the world at the moment. She also spoke about the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) that India has taken a lead in recent years with United Payment Interface (UPI) and other initiatives, which other countries have also taken an interest in.
The three top officials also highlighted the progress made in the G20 summit on the climate front. Kant said the climate financing outlined int he G20 Summit is the most ambitious ever.
Sitharaman listed out the elements of the green developmental plan: to focus on green development, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent by 2030, the formation of Global Bio Fuels Alliance, to combat plastic pollution, to tackle disasters, and the outlining of the climate financing.
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Sitharaman also said that there was a "huge focus" on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) with action plans discussed to address the domains of nutrition, health, and inclusive and resilient growth.
Terrorism was also discussed at the summit, with the leaders condemning terror in all its forms.
"Countering terrorism, money-laundering were discussed. G20 leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations...G20 leaders recognised terrorism constitutes one of the more serious threats to international peace and security," said Jaishankar.
Emphasising on the centrality of India's focus on the developing world, Jaishankar said that while G20 is not the platform to resolving crises, the Ukraine conflict was dicussed and its effects on the developing world factored in the discussions.
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"G20 leaders dwelt on war in Ukraine and its impact, especially on developing and least developing nations...At G20 Summit, three Fs -- food, fuel and fertilisers -- were issues of special concern," said Jaishankar, referring to the food and fertiliser crises in the world tha the Ukraine War has caused as the two countries are the largest producer of grains and fertilisers.
