A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over a virtual summit of G20 leaders, India on Tuesday said that the gathering would serve as a platform to deliberate the execution of the Delhi Declaration, foster collaboration on pressing challenges, and rectify deficiencies in global governance.
During a press conference, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said, "The virtual summit of the G20 being held tomorrow will also be a major gathering of world leaders since the conclusion of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly high-level week and the SDG Summit. Throughout the G20 presidency, India's work to ensure that the concerns of the Global South receive due cognisance. We have also seen the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of G20."
Kant highlighted that following the successful hosting of the leaders' summit on September 9 and 10, along with the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, the world has witnessed a series of events leading to the emergence of various new challenges.
Kant emphasized that while development would be the primary focus of the meeting, leaders might engage in discussions on a myriad of other issues. The virtual summit, he stated, presents an opportunity not only to discuss the implementation of the leaders' declaration but also for leaders to exchange views and intensify cooperation on critical challenges. The goal is to address gaps in global governance, reaffirm commitments to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and progress toward a revitalized multilateral system better positioned to positively impact people's lives.
Prime Minister Modi is slated to preside over the summit commencing at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, as announced by Kant during the press conference.
At the closing session of the G20 Summit held in September, PM Modi suggested to the G20 leaders that the leaders would reconvene virtually towards the end of India's G20 presidency period. The virtual summit will help take forward the guidance provided by the participating leaders in their interventions and also give an impetus to implementing the Summit's outcome, said Kant.