Sunday 12 / January / 2025
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said consensus has been built on New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration and announced its adoption.
The Prime Minister, who is chairing the G20 sessions, congratulated the Sherpas and ministers who had worked towards forging the consensus.
"I have received good news. Due to the hard work of our team, consensus has been built on New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration. My proposal is to adopt this leadership declaration. I announce to adopt this declaration. On this occasion, I congratulate my Sherpa, ministers, who worked hard for it and made it possible,” he said.
The announcement of adoption of the declaration was welcomed with thumping of desks.
In his opening remarks at the Summit, the Prime Minister said that the 21st century is a time that has the potential to give a new direction to the entire world.
“It's a time when years old challenges demand new solutions from us. Therefore, we must move forward by fulfilling all our responsibilities with a Human Centric approach,” he said.
Joint G20 communique cites
G20 leaders have called on all states to "act in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety" while conceding that there were "different views and assessments of the situation in Ukraine."
In a joint communique, they called on all states "to refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state."
They also said the "use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible."
The declaration reflects divisions within the group regarding Russia's unprovoked invasion of its neighbour, with several countries, including host nation India, refusing to join the majority of Western nations in unconditionally condemning Moscow's unlawful action.
India's PM invites African Union to join G20
Indian PM Narendra Modi said in his G20 opening speech on Saturday that the group has agreed to make the African Union a permanent member.
"With everyone's approval, I request the AU head to take his seat as a permanent G20 member," Modi said in his opening speech at the G20 event. The Indian leader shook hands with the current AU chair, Comoros President Azali Assoumani.
There has been a high degree of support for adding the AU to the G20 and it now becomes the second regional bloc to become a permanent member after the European Union.
The decision to include the AU is expected to strengthen the position of the Global South, which has been something Modi has been pushing for.
US President Joe Biden last year called for the AU's inclusion in the G20, saying it's been "a long time in coming."
AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat hailed the bloc's entry into the EU on messaging network X, formerly known as Twitter.
"I welcome the African Union's entry into the G20 as full member. This membership, for which we have long been advocating, will provide a propitious framework for amplifying advocacy in favor of the Continent and its effective contribution to meeting global challenges," he wrote.
Kenyan President William Ruto said the AU's entry into the G20 will "give African interests and perspectives voice and visibility in this important body."
