Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday (September 26) said during its tenure as the G20 president this year, India successfully bridged the gap between North and South, as well as eased East-West divisions.
Addressing the 78th UN General Assembly session, the minister said, "We were able to bridge the North-South divide and East-West polarisation and encourage the most powerful nations in the world to confront and commit to addressing challenges facing humanity today. This is captured in the forward-looking New Delhi Declaration. To say that India's G20 presidency walked the talk on difficult issues and pushed for collective action would not be an exaggeration."
Dr Jaishankar acknowledged the current period of exceptional global turmoil and India's assumption of the presidency of the G20 with a sense of extraordinary responsibility.
"When we say, One World, One Family, One Future, the world believes us. Today, India is seen as a solution provider, one that bridges divides," the minister said while talking about the outcomes of the successful G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi on September 9-10.
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He said during India's G20 presidency, New Delhi convened the Voice of the Global South Summit, enabling direct input from 125 nations, ensuring that critical issues received due attention on the G20 agenda. This inclusive approach yielded significant outcomes with global implications.
Dr Jaishankar also noted India's initiative to include the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, rectifying a long-overdue representation gap.
The minister stressed India's commitment to cooperation with diverse partners, transitioning from non-alignment to "vishwa mitra — a friend to the world." This approach is exemplified by India's active engagement in forums like the QUAD, the expansion of BRICS, and the emergence of I2U2.
Dr Jaishankar emphasised the importance of a rules-based international order, calling for respect for the UN Charter and a more equitable and democratic global system. He highlighted the need to ensure that rule-makers do not subjugate rule-takers.
Speaking on India's commitment to gender equality, he mentioned the legislation to reserve one-third of legislative seats for women, underscoring India's deep-rooted democratic traditions.
The minister urged the international community to address issues like vaccine inequity, climate action, fair distribution of resources, and terrorism without political convenience. He called for adherence to principles such as territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs consistently, rather than selectively.
Dr Jaishankar also highlighted India's achievements in space exploration, particularly the recent successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon. He mentioned India's advancements in digitally-enabled governance, infrastructure development, and the thriving startup ecosystem.
