G20 Summit, Day 1 Highlights: Delhi Leadership Declaration, African Union Made Permanent Member, And More

The G20 Leaders' Summit witnessed several significant developments such as the adoption of the New Delhi G20 Leadership Declaration and the inclusion of the 55-nation African Union as a permanent member.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes remarks at the Session-1 on 'One Earth' during the G20 Summit 2023 at the Bharat Mandapam convention center, in New Delhi, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Source : X/@NarendraModi

The G20 Leaders' Summit, a gathering of world leaders, began on Saturday with notable world leaders in attendance such as US President Joe Biden, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, among others while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Premier Li Qiang respectively. 

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed his counterparts to the summit, with the country name 'Bharat' representing him.

• PM Modi announced the adoption of the New Delhi G20 Leadership Declaration at the G20 Summit. The Declaration on the Ukraine Conflict reiterated the grouping's national positions and resolutions adopted at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) while referring to the war's negative impact on supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation, and growth. More On It: G20 Leaders Have Adopted Delhi Declaration: PM Modi
  
  
• During the event, Modi also declared the inclusion of the 55-nation African Union as a permanent member of the G20, a move that he believes will enhance the group's inclusivity and align with the aspirations of the Global South.
  
  Modi expressed his appreciation, stating, "Honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 Family. This will strengthen the G20 and also strengthen the voice of the Global South."

It is an honour to welcome the @_AfricanUnion to the G20 fold. India believes in a collaborative future and this step further solidifies our collective commitment to global progress. Here's to a brighter future for the Global South. https://t.co/HwIo29ROEo

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 9, 2023

• As the African Union secured its position as a permanent member of the G20, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the unique opportunity that global reconstruction presents post the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed the need to expedite the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, and sustainable societies.
  
  
•  With the Ukraine war's shadow looming over the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi urged the leaders of the bloc to overcome the current trust deficit and collectively find concrete solutions to the turbulent global economy, terrorism, and management of food, fuel, and fertilisers.
  
  In his opening remarks at the summit, Modi said that as the president of the G20, "India invites the entire world to come together and, first and foremost, transform this global trust deficit into global trust and confidence." He highlighted that India's G20 presidency has become a symbol of inclusion, both within the country and beyond, representing the spirit of 'Sabka Saath'.
  
  "India calls upon the entire world to turn this global trust deficit into trust and confidence," he said.
  
  
• On the Ukraine war, the G20 declaration mentioned, "Today’s era must not be of war". In a presser, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar noted that the G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, but "leaders recognised it has consequences on the global economy. In particular, they focused on Ukraine war."
  
  
• G20 leaders also urged for the full and timely implementation of a UN-brokered deal that enables Ukraine to export its grain to the world markets through the Black Sea. In the G20 declaration, the leaders of the bloc stressed the importance of sustaining food and energy security and called for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure.
  
  
• India also announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance urging G20 nations to join the initiative with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20 per cent. Besides this, Prime Minister Modi proposed to launch the 'G20 Satellite Mission for Environment and Climate Observation' appealing to leaders to start working on the 'Green Credit Initiative'.
  
  
• With 73 outcomes (lines of effort) and 39 annexed documents (presidency documents, not including Working Group outcome documents), Kant said that India’s G20 Presidency has been the most ambitious in the history of G-20. 

VIDEO | "This has been the most ambitious presidency in the history of G20," says G20 Sherpa @amitabhk87. pic.twitter.com/NgIQ8ztT0l

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 9, 2023

Meanwhile, EAM Dr S Jaishankar addressing a presser said that, “We have consciously sought to make this G20 as inclusive and broad-based as possible. It is a matter of particular satisfaction for us that the African Union this morning has become the permanent member of G20, under India’s presidency.”

• G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that one of the biggest achievements of this New Delhi leaders' declaration is it has achieved on women-led development, "with a massive focus on women empowerment and gender equality". "There's a huge focus on gender-inclusive climate action. There's a completely big focus on women's food security, nutrition, and well-being. And we've created a new working group on empowerment of women, which Brazil will carry forward," he said.

  #WATCH | G-20 in India: G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant says, "I think one of the biggest achievements of this New Delhi leaders' declaration is what we've achieved on women-led development, with a massive focus on women empowerment and gender equality... There's a huge focus on… pic.twitter.com/KJJNDNGXr9

  — ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2023

• On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak and Japan's Fumio Kishida with discussions on boosting bilateral ties and cooperation.

The G20, consisting of 20 major economies, collectively accounts for 85 per cent of the world's economic output and 75 per cent of global trade. Furthermore, the G20 nations are home to approximately two-thirds of the world's population. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Global South's voice is heard within the group.

This expansion marks a historic moment for the G20, which was established in 1999 in response to the Asian financial crisis as a platform for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial matters. Following the global economic and financial crisis of 2007, the G20 was elevated to the level of Heads of State/Government in 2008. In 2009, it was designated the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

The G20 Summit convenes annually under the leadership of a rotating presidency, offering world leaders a platform to address pressing global challenges and foster international cooperation.