G20 with India at helm will be inclusive, action-oriented: Modi

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As Indonesia handed over the G20 presidency to India, PM Narendra Modi assured the world’s premier forum for economic cooperation that India’s presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive, action-oriented and that it will work to make G20 a catalyst for global change.

He said it’s important for G20 to convey a strong message of peace and security as without that the world will not be able to take advantage of economic development.

Taking charge from Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the 17th G20 summit in Bali that ended Wednesday, Modi said India’s presidency had come at a time when the world is simultaneously grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices, and long-term ill-effects of the pandemic.

“At such a time, the world is looking at the G20 with hope. Today, I want to assure that India’s G20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented,” he said.

“India will strive to take forward Indonesia’s commendable initiatives during its G20 Presidency. It is a very auspicious coincidence for India that we are assuming the responsibility of G20 Presidency in this holy island of Bali. India and Bali have an age-old relationship.”

PM Narendra Modi congratulated Indonesia for its leadership in difficult times and the G20 community for adopting the Bali Declaration.

Over the next year, said the PM, India will make efforts to ensure that the G20 acts as a global prime mover to envision new ideas and accelerate collective action.

“The sense of ownership over natural resources is giving rise to conflict today and has become the main cause of the plight of the environment. For the safe future of the planet, the sense of trusteeship is the solution. LiFE i.e. ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ campaign can make a big contribution to this. Its purpose is to make sustainable lifestyles a mass movement,” said Modi.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Modi said the need today is that for benefits of development to be universal and all-inclusive and extended to all human beings with compassion and solidarity. He said global development is not possible without women’s participation.

“We have to maintain priority on women-led development even in our G20 agenda. Without peace and security, our future generations will not be able to take advantage of economic growth or technological innovation. The G20 has to convey a strong message in favour of peace and harmony. All these priorities are fully embodied in the theme of India’s G20 Chairmanship – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,” said the Prime Minister Modi.

“We will organise G20 meetings in different cities of our country. Our guests will get a full experience of India’s amazing diversity, inclusive traditions, and cultural richness. We wish that all of you will participate in this unique celebration in India, the ‘Mother of Democracy’. Together, we will make the G20 a catalyst for global change,” he said. (The Times of India)