PM Modi to highlight key issues affecting Global South at G20 leaders’ summit

Banners of portraits of world leaders of G20 countries displayed on the pillars of a highway overpass in Johannesburg. Pic/AFP

India is looking forward to a successful and productive G20 Leaders' Summit in South Africa's Johannesburg later this week, which will also see the participation of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.

Sudhakar Dalela, secretary, economic relations at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while talking to the media on Thursday, said, "The summit will be important for India to ensure continuity of its priorities in the G20 after having hosted a very successful presidency in 2023."

"As you are aware, the G20 has emerged as a premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as for discussing matters of global significance. The G20 provides an excellent opportunity for the leaders of major and emerging economies - representing over 85 per cent of global GDP and around three-quarters of the world's population - to come together and discuss important issues impacting the world," said Dalela before PM Modi's visit to South Africa.

PM Modi will be visiting Johannesburg from November 21 to 23 to attend the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. PM Modi's visit to South Africa will be the fourth consecutive G20 Summit held in the Global South.

Moreover, this will be PM Modi's fourth official visit to South Africa following his bilateral visit in 2016 and later for the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023, reported IANS.

According to MEA, PM Modi will put forth India's perspectives on the G20 agenda and is expected to speak in all the three sessions of the summit.

These sessions have been titled Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Leaving No One Behind: Building our economies; the role of trade; financing for development and the debt burden; A Resilient World - the G20's Contribution: Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transitions; Food Systems; and, A Fair and a Just Future for All: Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence.

Secretary Dalela, while talking to the media on Thursday about key priorities, asserted, "South Africa has identified four key priority areas for its G20 presidency this year: strengthening disaster resilience and response; ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries; mobilising finance for a just energy transition; and fourthly, harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development."

He added that this visit will be important for India for the continuity of its priorities after having hosted a successful presidency in 2023.

(With inputs from IANS)