Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that there should be a ceasefire in Ukraine, and an end to the war. “I have repeatedly said that we have to find a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine,” PM Modi said while attending the Food and Energy Security Session at the 17th G20 Leaders Summit in Bali.
“Over the past century, the Second World War wreaked havoc in the world. After that, the leaders of that time made a serious effort to take the path of peace. Now it’s our turn. The onus of creating a new world order for the post-Covid period lies on our shoulders. The need of the hour is to show concrete and collective resolve to ensure peace, harmony, and security in the world,” he said.
“I am confident that next year when the G20 meets in the holy land of Buddha and Gandhi, we will all agree to convey a strong message of peace to the world,” he said.
PM Modi reached Bali on Monday and is scheduled to attend the G20 Summit of the world’s major economies and hold bilateral meetings on its sidelines with key leaders on pressing global issues. During his 45-hour visit, PM Modi is expected to discuss crucial topics, including world economy, energy, environment, agriculture, health, and digital transformation. PM Modi’s visit to the G20 summit is crucial as he will formally take over India’s G20 Chairmanship for 2023 starting December 1.
After arriving in Bali, PM Modi tweeted, “Grateful to the Indian community for the warm welcome in Bali!”
Besides PM Modi, the two-day summit will be attended by US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak among heads from 20 countries and the European Union who make up the group.
PM Modi’s schedule
PM Modi is scheduled to attend around 20 meetings, as per government sources. He will also hold bilateral meetings with around 10 world leaders.
But it is still not clear whether Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived in Bali earlier in the day, separately. Both last met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand in September, but there was no formal or informal meeting between the two leaders.
Besides, PM Modi will participate in the summit’s session on Health on Tuesday, and a session on discussing the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Western leaders are expected to press Russia to renew a deal allowing Ukrainian wheat export through the Black Sea. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending the summit, and the country is represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister will meet members of the Indian community in Indonesia and later watch a cultural performance.
G20 summit
The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA and the European Union (EU).
The list includes both advanced and emerging economies. Together, they account for over 80 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product, 75 per cent of international trade, and two-thirds of the world population.
During Delhi’s presidency in the coming year, it would be the first time when the troika of G20’s current, previous, and next president would consist of three developing countries – India, Indonesia, and Brazil.
(With agency inputs)
