New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the Voice of Global South Summit where he spoke about creating a new world order to ensure the welfare of people living in countries comprising the Global South.
"We supported each other in the fight against foreign rule and we can do it again in this century to create a new world order that will ensure welfare of our citizens. Your voice is India's voice and your priorities are India's priorities," he said, as per news agency ANI.
"We have turned the page on another difficult year that shows war, conflict, terrorism, geopolitical tensions, rising food fertilizers, and fuel prices. Most of the global challenges have not been created by Global South but they affect us more," PM Modi said, flagging concerns over rising prices of food, fuel, and fertilisers as well as climate change.
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We, the Global South, have the largest stakes in the future. Most global challenges have not been created by Global South, but they affect us more, he asserted.
The Prime Minister further mentioned that India has always shared its "developmental experience with our brothers of Global South". As India begins its G20 Presidency this year, it is natural that our aim is to amplify the voice of Global South, he emphasised.
"We, the global South, have the largest stakes in the future. Three-fourths of humanity live in our countries. India has always shared its development experience with the global south. Our development partnerships cover all geographies and diverse sectors," PM Modi said.
"Together, we must attempt to redesign global political and financial governance. Working together can reduce inequalities, enlarge opportunities, support growth, and spread progress and prosperity," he added.
The Prime Minister called to "re-energise the world", "we should together call for a global agenda of Response, Recognition, Respect, and Reform." The need of the hour is to identify Simple, Scalable and Sustainable Solutions, he mentioned.
"Over the next two days, we will have discussions on eight priority areas. I am confident that together, the Global South can form new and creative ideas. These ideas can form the basis of our voices in G-20 and other forums," PM Modi emphasised.
Voice of Global South Summit
Last week, India announced a special summit of countries comprising the Global South — a congregation of developing nations — in a virtual format from January 12 to 13. This was announced by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Friday during a media briefing. The Foreign Secretary said that more than 120 countries would be invited to the Global South event.
He added that the main agenda of the summit will focus on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that has given rise to the food and energy crisis for the poorer countries. Apart from that, the summit will also seek to discuss economic woes facing the countries in Global South due to the Covid pandemic.
Apart from the heads of state, there will be separate meetings of foreign ministers, finance ministers, and trade ministers.
(With Agency Inputs)