India wants G20 to discuss more on global growth and less about Russia: Jaishankar
The origin and mandate of the G20 was global growth. The G20 is not the UN Security council. It’s not the primary forum to debate international peace and security, says Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that India wants G20 leaders to discuss more on global growth and less about Ukraine Russia issue in the G20 summit to be held in the national capital in September this year.
"The origin and mandate of the G20 was global growth. Last year because of Ukraine, the conversation went in the direction of one issue. We would like to see without disrespecting that particular issue...We would like to see a return to what we believe matters most to the roughly 200 countries of the world."
On being asked about no communique being issued by the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting in Bengaluru and later at the Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi earlier this month, Jaishankar said, "We had meeting, we were negotiating on a 24 paragraphs document, we had agreement on 22 paragraphs. There were two paragraphs pertaining to Ukraine, which carry forward what happened to Bali. We could not get agreement on that."
However, he said that India's real contribution is to get G20 back to its business. It was not the job of G20 to discuss upon international peace and security but focus on other serious issues around the world, he added.
Also Read: G20 Foreign Ministers meeting ends without communique due to differences on Ukraine, says Jaishankar
"We have to be real about it. In this state of the world, if I get 22 out of 24, it is 95 percent… I was not dissatisfied…I would obviously like to get 100 percent…but look, my point is...what we really manage to do in the G20. I agree one should not be textually obsessed, though text does matter. I think our real contribution was to get G20 back to its business.
The G20 is not the UN Security council. It’s not the primary forum to debate international peace and security…I am not saying it doesn’t matter or doesn’t have economic consequences. They do. But, If you look today at the world, there are serious issues for the world to be worry about. Food and energy security, green financing, Agenda 2030, trade issues, debt issues."
"And in that sense, I would say more than getting 22 out of 24, I would take satisfaction in the fact...the FM meeting in Bengaluru and my meeting in Delhi...we were able to get G20 back on track," Jaishankar said.
He further said that India has worked very hard to achieve the presidency of G20. It is a big opportunity for the country.
Further commenting on India's stand on the Ukraine-Russia war, he said that India has become the voice of global south. Jaishankar said that the world has become a much more difficult place, however India has taken an independent position on the issue.
"Did not expect something to happen like this. Many things have changed. Russia’s relations with the West and Europe have changed. Now, the world has become a much more difficult place. India is the voice of the global South. India has made a lot of effort to achieve this," he said.
Jaishankar added that India has tried to press for return to peace. "We have taken independent position. We are not the only one but among the most prominent one....We have been more outspoken among all other countries."
India assumed the G20 presidency from Indonesia on December 1, 2022 and will continue to hold the presidency till November 30, 2023. During the period, over 200 meetings will be held in India across 55 locations, which will witness the participation of emerging economies of the world.
As per the official data, so far, 50 G20 meetings have been held across the country.
Inspired by the theme of "One Earth, One Family, One Future", Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while assuming the presidency, listed terror, climate change, pandemic as the greatest challenges that can be best fought together.
News18 Network has partnered with Poonawalla Fincorp Ltd for this edition of its premier leadership conclave — Rising India summit 2023. The theme of the summit "The Heroes of Rising India”, highlights the extraordinary achievements of people who achieve remarkable feats.
The two-day summit is being held at New Delhi's Taj Palace Hotel.
First Published: Mar 29, 2023 4:25 PM IST
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