New Delhi: Indonesia handed over the G20 presidency to India for the upcoming year at the Bali summit on Wednesday.
In the closing ceremony of the two-day meet, Indonesian President Joko Widodo handed over the presidency baton to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"India is taking charge of the G-20 at a time when the world is simultaneously grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices, and the long-term ill-effects of the pandemic," news agency PTI quoted PM Modi as saying.
"At such a time, the world is looking at the G-20 with hope. Today, I want to assure that India's G-20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented," Modi added.
India will officially assume the G20 Presidency from December 1.
The next G20 Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10 in New Delhi.
The prime minister, speaking on the occasion, said that India's presidency of the G-20 is a proud moment for the country and that the nation will organise G-20 meetings across different cities and states.
"Our guests will get 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 G-20, a catalyst for global change," he said, adding, "Over the next one year, we will strive to ensure that the G-20 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," he further said.