The 18th Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 20 (G20) is going on in New Delhi, India. Under the Indian Presidency, the G20 in 2023 focusses on the theme, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. The theme affirms the value of human, animal, plant, and microorganisms and their interconnectedness on planet Earth and in the wider universe.
The Leaders’ Summit is the climax of the G20 process and the work carried out over the year through Ministerial Meetings, Working Groups, and Engagement Groups.
The Indian Presidency also spotlighted Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), with an emphasis on environmentally sustainable and responsible choices at both the individual lifestyle and the national development level, with the aim of achieving a cleaner, greener, and bluer future. The Working Groups focussed on the following tracks: agriculture, anti-corruption, culture, digital economy, disaster risk reduction, development, education, employment, environment and climate sustainability, energy transitions, health, trade and investment, and tourism.
The G20 has made a consensus on a Leaders’ Declaration at the conclusion of the Summit that states Leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the Ministerial and Working Group Meetings.
The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the EU. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, and the US. India holds the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.
India, the host country for the Group of 20 major affluent and developing countries this year, finished the summit's first day with diplomatic victories. As the first session got underway, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement that the African Union will be joining the organisation as a member as part of his efforts to empower the Global South.
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A few hours later, India declared that it had succeeded in persuading the diverse group to approve a final statement—but only after diluting language against Russia's conflict in Ukraine. Here's everything Bharat achieved:
Consensus on Ukraine
This was 'The ISSUE' that was going to define how the world saw India's stewardship of the G20. That's because the grouping was divided on the Ukraine war. While Russia and China wanted to avoid discussion on Ukraine, Western nations wanted to condemn Russia. This issue has blocked consensus throughout Bharat’s G20 Presidency.
Had Bharat failed to achieve consensus and release a joint declaration, the G20 summit may have been described as a failure. Eventually, a compromise was brokered that significantly toned down criticism of Russia. It was widely accepted that Bharat would be unable to forge a consensus on Ukrain. But India proved them wrong!! Bharat managed to get a joint declaration which will go down as THE BIG TAKEAWAY from this Summit. It will prove beneficial to India's diplomatic reputation.
African Union becomes G20 member
The 55-nation African Union (AU) became a member of the G20 under India’s leadership. And the G20 will be known as G21. This was a significant move for Bharat, which has tried to project itself as a Voice of the Global South. Bharat can now concretely point to its record of pushing developing country concerns.
Economics
Two major things stand out: Debt Relief and Reform of International Institutions.
On debt, poor countries have been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic with high debt levels. Efforts to work together & bail them out (including by the G20) have been slow. Bharat managed to speed up this process by getting consensus to help new countries like Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia.
The major story was also reform of institutions like World Bank and IMF. Experts have called for them to lend more money for climate change and to help poor nations. At this G20 Summit, countries agreed to consider major recommendations to reform these global institutions. This will allow them to spend billions on global priorities over the next decade. Besides this, progress on highly complex global tax reforms also took place.
Technology
First, countries agreed to consider regulations on crypto-currencies given the threat they pose to the stability of the financial system. Second, Bharat successfully pushed Digital Public Infrastructure (basically Aadhar, UPI) as a means of financial inclusion. This is expected to help Bharat to export its homemade tech solutions across the developing world. This further boosts its international reputation as a provider of global solutions.
Climate Change
The Bharat-led Global Biofuel Alliance was also launched yesterday.
The goal: To "take an initiative at a global-level to take ethanol blending in petrol up to 20%" This is part of Bharat's larger clean energy push and will help boost Bharat's image abroad.
China and its Indian franchise Congress tried their best not to have any joint declaration but they failed miserably. Bharat got pretty much everything it wanted. This was the most successful G20 till date.
China’s Absence at G20
Chinese leader Xi Jinping avoided visiting India during the G20 summit in Delhi for a number of reasons. The main reasons are:
• The ongoing border dispute between India and China. The two countries have been locked in a border dispute in the Ladakh region since 2020, and tensions have been high ever since. Xi's visit to India would have been seen as a sign of goodwill, but it is unlikely that he would have been able to avoid the issue of the border dispute. This could have led to awkward or even hostile exchanges between the two leaders.
• The desire to avoid a meeting with US President Joe Biden. Xi and Biden have not met face-to-face since Biden took office in January 2021. The two countries have been engaged in a number of disputes, including over trade, human rights, and the South China Sea. A meeting between Xi and Biden at the G20 summit would have been seen as an opportunity to improve relations, but it is also possible that it could have led to a further escalation of tensions.
But these are superficial reasons. The main reason is XI Xingping wanted to avoid questions on internal conditions, which could have detrimental to his crafted image and China being super power. China's economy is facing some headwinds, and it is not providing employment and good living conditions to its people as well as it used to. The property market is in a slump. The property market is a major driver of the Chinese economy, and its recent slowdown has had a knock-on effect on other sectors. This has led to job losses in the construction and real estate industries, and it has also made it more difficult for people to buy homes. The manufacturing sector is facing challenges. The manufacturing sector has been hit by rising costs and declining demand, both domestically and internationally. This has led to job losses in the sector, and it has also made it more difficult for businesses to invest and grow. The services sector is not growing as fast as it used to. The services sector is the largest sector of the Chinese economy, but it is not growing as fast as it used to. This is due to a number of factors, including the slowdown in the property market and the rising cost of labour.
The impact of these challenges on employment and living conditions has been mixed. Some people have lost their jobs, while others have seen their wages stagnate. The cost of living has also been rising, making it more difficult for people to make ends meet.
The Chinese people are facing a period of uncertainty and economic hardship. In addition to the economic challenges, China is also facing a number of social challenges, such as rising inequality, environmental degradation, and an aging population. These challenges are also putting a strain on the economy and making it more difficult to provide good living conditions for the people.
The future of the Chinese economy is uncertain. Then how can it show its face on a multilateral platform like G20. Any which ways China’s commitment to multilateral forums is highly doubtful and it’s standing in the world politics too.
The implications of Xi's decision not to visit India are significant. It sends a signal that China is not interested in improving relations with India, and it could further damage the already strained relationship between the two countries. It also raises questions about China's commitment to multilateralism and its willingness to cooperate with other countries on global issues.
In the long term, Xi's decision could damage China's standing in the world. India is a rising power, and its growing ties with the United States and other Western countries could make it more difficult for China to achieve its foreign policy goals. Additionally, Xi's decision could alienate other countries in the region, such as Japan and South Korea, who are also concerned about China's growing assertiveness.
Overall, Xi's decision not to visit India is a major setback for China's foreign policy. It will be difficult for China to improve relations with India in the near future, and it could also damage China's standing in the world.
India Showcases Its Culture and Tradition at G20 Summit
India took the opportunity to showcase its rich culture and tradition during the G20 summit in New Delhi. The summit was attended by leaders from 20 major economies, and it was a chance for India to show the world its many facets.
One of the highlights of the summit was the Crafts Bazaar, which was held at Pragati Maidan. The bazaar showcased the work of artisans from all over India, and it gave visitors a chance to see and buy traditional handicrafts. There were textiles, jewelry, pottery, woodwork, and many other items on display.
Another highlight of the summit was the Gala Dinner, which was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The dinner was attended by all the leaders, and it was a chance for India to showcase its culinary heritage. The menu included traditional dishes from all over the country, and it was a feast for the senses.
In addition to the Crafts Bazaar and the Gala Dinner, there were also a number of other events that showcased India's culture and tradition. These included traditional dance performances, music concerts, and cultural exhibitions. The aim of these events was to give the visiting dignitaries a better understanding of India's rich and diverse culture.
The visiting dignitaries were clearly impressed by India's culture and tradition. Many of them took to social media to express their appreciation. The successful showcasing of India's culture and tradition at the G20 summit was a major coup for the Indian government. It showed the world that India is a country with a rich and vibrant culture, and it helped to enhance India's image on the global stage.
The impact of the cultural showcase was also felt on the ground. Many of the visiting dignitaries met with local artisans and entrepreneurs, and they expressed their interest in doing business with India. This could lead to increased investment and trade between India and other countries, which would benefit the Indian economy.
Overall, the cultural showcase at the G20 summit was a major success for India. It helped to promote India's image as a country with a rich and vibrant culture, and it could lead to increased investment and trade.˘
By NILABH KRISHNA
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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