New Delhi: On Saturday, the African Union officially joined the G20 as a member upon the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting the summit. This move signifies an expansion of the G20’s influence.
Distinguished personalities such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Managing Director and Chairperson of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva and Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala have already gathered for the summit.
Ahead of the scheduled G20 Leaders Summit on September 9-10, Amitabh Kant, India’s representative for this event, revealed that the New Delhi Leaders Declaration is almost finalized. This declaration, also called a communique, aims to garner consensus among leaders while amplifying voices from developing countries and the global south.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs), including one focused on payment methods.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden of the United States arrived in New Delhi for the G20 Summit. Held a meeting with PM Modi. India, the US, Japan and Australia have formed an alliance known as the Quad. Its main objective is to foster collaboration to maintain an open Indo-Pacific region in response to China’s military activities.
The 18th G20 Summit is at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi. The summit is set to conclude by adopting a Leaders’ Declaration. It’s worth noting that PM Modi’s placard at the opening of the G20 Summit referred to India as “Bharat,” prompting speculation about a potential name change for the nation. While India traditionally uses “India” in titles such as president or prime minister when communicating in English, the term “Bharat” is also used interchangeably in Indian languages and among the public.