The G20 summit concluded here on Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over the customary gavel of the G20 chair to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Modi also proposed a virtual summit by November to review the initiatives taken during the Indian presidency. Brazil will formally assume the G20 presidency on December 1 this year. The next summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024.
Geopolitical issues should not hijack the discussions at G20, the Brazilian President said after assuming the presidency of the bloc of emerging and developed economies.
Prime Minister Modi extended full support to Brazil and expressed confidence that its presidency would take forward the shared goals of the G20 bloc.
“India passes the gavel to Brazil. We have unwavering faith that they will lead with dedication, vision and will further global unity as well as prosperity,” Modi said.
He proposed a virtual G20 Summit by November end to take stock of the suggestions and decisions made at the leaders’ summit that concluded in the national Capital on Sunday.
“In the last two days, you have put forward your views, given suggestions and a number of proposals have been put forward. It is our responsibility that the suggestions that have come forth are closely looked upon as to how they can be speeded up,” Modi said.
“It is my proposal that we hold another session of the G20 virtually in November-end. In that session, we can review the issues that have been agreed upon during this summit. Our teams will share the details of it with you. I hope all of you will join this (session),” he said.
“With this, I declare the G20 summit closed,” Modi said.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the G20 Summit, Lula said the bloc was not interested in a “divided G20” and the challenges of the day could be faced only through joint action.
“We need peace and cooperation instead of conflict,” he said soon after Modi passed the gavel to him.
“The path that will take us from New Delhi to Rio de Janeiro will require a lot of dedication and commitment from everyone,” Lula said.
He said the Brazilian presidency will hold G20 meetings in cities in each of the five regions of the South American country.
Outlining his priorities for the Brazilian presidency, Lula said it would be his endeavour to make the political and financial tracks work in a coordinated and integrated manner. “There is no point in agreeing on the best public policy if there are no resources allocated for its implementation,” he said.
Lula said he would also ensure that the civil society engagement groups get an opportunity to report recommendations and conclusions to the Government directly. He congratulated Modi and thanked India for its efforts to give a voice to the topics of interest to emerging economies.
Lula also listed social inclusion, the fight against hunger, energy transition and sustainable development as G20 priorities.
He said the UN Security Council (UNSC) needs new developing countries as permanent, non-permanent members to regain political strength.
“We want greater representation for emerging countries at the World Bank and the IMF,” the Brazilian President said.
Earlier Modi had made a strong pitch for expansion of the UNSC and reforms in all global institutions, asserting that they should reflect the world’s “new realities” as it is nature’s law that those who don’t change with times, lose relevance.
Echoing Modi’s pitch, Lula da Silva said the UNSC needs new developing countries as permanent and non-permanent members to regain political relevance.
It has been a particularly challenging year for the group, which represents the world’s largest economies, as Russia and China had proved intransigent in discussions around the Ukraine war, climate and energy, derailing attempts for a consensus in previous ministerial meetings.
With India’s G20 presidency ensuring several tangible outcomes, world leaders at the two-day summit here hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “decisive leadership” and for championing the voice of the Global South, sources said on Sunday.
The world leaders also hailed India’s hospitality and praised Prime Minister Modi for presiding over a successful summit, while noting that the country’s message of ‘one earth, one family, one future’ resonated strongly with all the delegates.