G-20 Presidency: A Proud Moment for Indian Diplomacy

 

G-20 Presidency: A Proud Moment for Indian Diplomacy

 The G-20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 20 countries and the European Union. It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable

development. The members of the G20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. The G20 was formed in 1999, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, to unite finance ministers and central bankers from twenty of the world's largest established and emerging economies. The main purpose of G-20 is to bring together important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The G20 Countries together represent around 90% of global GDP, 80% of global trade, and two thirds of the world’s population. The objectives of the G20 are: a) Policy coordination between its members in order to achieve global economic stability, sustainable growth; b) To promote financial regulations that reduce risks and prevent future financial crises; and c) To create a new international financial architecture.

 India’s participation in the G-20 process stems from the realization that as a major developing economy India has a vital stake in the stability of the international economic and financial system. India has been actively involved in the G20 preparatory process both at the

Sherpas Track and the Financial Track since its inception in 1999. The movement of glory for the Indian diplomacy came at the G-20 Summit held at Bali (Indonesia) on November 26, 2022 when the baton of the next Summit of G-20 to be held in New Delhi was formally passed on PM Narendra Modi by the President of Indonesia. Accepting the great responsibility and honour, PM Narendra Modi, while stating the agenda, said, “. India’s Presidency of G-20 would be “inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented". Earlier the logo and theme of the G-20 Submit to be held under the Presidency of India was released and it was rightly underlined the importance of the G-20 Summit to be held in New Delhi in November, 2023 under challenging times for the world’s emerging economic and security scenario. Indian political and economic leadership and also the diplomatic establishment are fully geared up to host the occasion and realize the professed and proclaimed lofty ideals of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

India has formally assumed the Presidency of the G-20 on December 1, 2022 with great enthusiasm and earnestness. In a story, the Indian Express rightly termed the occasion as a ‘watershed moment’ and said, “India has formally assumed the presidency of G-20 on December 1 and the Heads of Government Summit has been planned

for the second half of 2023. The G20 summit would be qualitatively different from any of the previous multilateral summits that India has hosted. None of the previous summits had the world’s largest economies assembled in one place nor did they have the entire P-5 (permanent members of the UN Security Council) represented. In that sense, the G-20 summit would be the first of its kind in Indian history.” PM Naendra Modi, in an article on the subject, highlighted the over-all reach of the G-20 and said, “India looks forward to a Presidency of healing, harmony and hope.” A key element of India’s G20 Presidency will be taking the G20 closer to the public and making it truly a ‘People’s G20’. To realize this, Citizen engagement and large scale public participation through various Jan Bhagidari activities are planned throughout the year. It was stated in a Press Release of the Ministry of External Affairs. The Press Release further said, “Drawing inspiration from its G20 Presidency theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ - ‘One Earth One Family One Future’, India will host over 200 meetings in over 50

cities across 32 different work streams, and would have the opportunity to offer G20 delegates and guests a glimpse of India’s rich cultural heritage and provide them with a unique Indian experience.”India has fully risen to the occasion to host the G-20 Summit in association and cooperation of all the members of the august body and stake holders. G-20 Secretariat is fully functional under the stewardship of one of the experienced and competent administrators, Amitabh Kant, as the Sherpa of G-20 - A Sherpa is a guide in the Himalayas, taking mountaineers to the summit. Similarly, #G20 Sherpa spearheads the Presidency to the final Leaders Summit; fully supported and assisted by the finest diplomats of India; Harsh Vardan Shringla, Muktesh Pardeshi, Abhay Kumar  along with their team of young diplomats. The Envoys of the members countries and others concerned were fully briefed of the preparations and nitty gritty of the G-20 Summit in the second half of the year. On December 1, all the important buildings and monuments were fully illuminated with a view to encourage public participation and appreciation of the historic and proud movement of India. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar underlining the point said, “Given its significance, we would like G20 to be not a Delhi-centric event but one that is celebrated across the width and breadth of the country,”

and added, “The countrywide spread of the event will help Indian citizens to understand that as a result of the G-20, India will be “more world-ready” and the “world more India-ready”. EAM Jaishankar termed G-20 Presidency as “unparalleled, a crucial responsibility” and further said, “This is not a development that should be regarded as one more diplomatic happening. On the contrary, it is a crucial responsibility that is being assumed by India at a very challenging time in world politics and at an inflection point in India’s own history”.

All said and done, G-20 Summit 2023 is proud moment and a timely opportunity to show and register India’s strength as the biggest democracy of the world on one hand and a humane and civilized society standing for ‘peace and equitable world order’ as a responsible member of the comity of nations. With a view to achieve this lofty goal, we need to be strong and resilient at home as a ‘secular, socialist and democratic’ country as stipulated in the Constitution of India. It is said that foreign policy of any country is an extension of its internal situation. India needs to be strong and stable from within. We need to push for ‘political consensus’ across the political spectrum. It is a matter of gratification to note that GOI under PM Narendra Modi has already started the process by calling an all party meeting on the subject – Agaz To Acha Hai; Anjam Bhi Acha Hi Hoga.

मैं नहीं संदेश स्वर्ग का लाया; इस भूतल को ही स्वर्ग बनाने आया