Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Bali on November 14, 2022 evening to participate in the G-20 summit. In a pre-departure statement, Mr Modi said that he will take up issues of “global concern” at the leadership level summit.
“During the Bali Summit, I will have extensive discussions with other G-20 Leaders on key issues of global concern, such as reviving global growth, food & energy security, environment, health, and digital transformation,” said Mr. Modi announcing he will meet with counterparts of member countries of G-20 on the side lines of the summit which is likely to be dominated by the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
The G-20 summit in Bali is a special event as it is being held in the backdrop of important developments like the war in Ukraine, the mid-term election in the US and the election of President Xi Jinping for a third term as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China. Russia which launched a military attack on Ukraine on February 24 was expected to be represented by President Vladimir Putin who has skipped the event. Instead of President Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has reached Bali to represent Russia at the summit.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not announced the bilateral meetings of Prime Minister Modi and in Beijing, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning refused to confirm whether the Indian leader would meet President Xi Jinping saying, “Maintaining solid relations between both countries serve the interest of both China and India. We hope that the Indian side will work with China to promote the steady and sound development of bilateral relations and uphold the shared interests of both China and India and our fellow developing countries.”
India is on track to take over G-20 presidency at the end of the summit when President Joko Widodo will ceremonially handover responsibility for 2023 G-20 summit to PM Modi.
“India will officially assume the G20 Presidency from 1st December 2022. I will also extend my personal invitation to G20 Members and other invitees to our G20 Summit next year,” said PM Modi.
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The G-20 summit for next year will be held here and PM Modi will personally invite every member States to the next year’s summit. “India’s G20 Presidency will be grounded in the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”, which underlines the message of equitable growth and shared future for all,” declared PM Modi.
The Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to be in Indonesia till November 16. During his stay, he will interact with the Indian community in Indonesia.
