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G20 Summit ends: PM Modi hands over 'One Earth, One Family' baton to Brazil

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 10 Sep 2023, 07:33 am

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday ended the G20 summit with ‘Swasti Astu Vishwa’ -- a prayer which means "let there be peace in the world" as he handed over the gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, marking the ceremonial transfer of the G20 presidency.

The next G20 chair Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva commended India for lending voice to concerns of emerging economies.

"Yesterday, we had wide-ranging discussions in the 'One Earth, One Family' sessions. I am satisfied that today the G20 has become a platform for optimistic efforts regarding the vision of One Earth, One Family, One Future," PM Modi said in his closing remarks today.

Congratulating PM Modi, Lula da Silva enumerated the top priorities—social inclusion, the battle against hunger, energy transition and sustainable development as G20 priorities.

He emphasised the need for reforming the UN Security Council, with new developing countries as permanent, non-permanent members to strengthen them politically.

"We want greater representation for emerging countries at the World Bank and the IMF," he said.

The Summit recognised the need to end the "global trust deficit", start of the Global Biofuel Alliance, and the of new logistics networks between the US, India, Saudi Arabia, and Gulf states.

Earlier thought to be difficult by several quarters, including the US, India managed to draw a consensus despite disagreement over references to Russia’s aggression on Ukraine. The New Delhi Declaration appealed to the nations to respect the territorial integrity and international humanitarian law to safeguard peace and stability.

"We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability," the declaration said.

China and Russia, whose heads of state were not present at the Summit, also agreed with the Delhi declaration.

However, Ukraine expressed disappointment over the declaration, saying it was "nothing to be proud of" as the declaration avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine even as it called on all countries to not use force to grab territory.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said that a Ukrainian presence would have given the members of the grouping a better view of the situation.

The G20 bloc represents 85 percent of the world's GDP and contributes 80 percent of emissions.

The African Union was added to G20, increasing the presence and representation of the global south on the world stage.

Before the end of the sessions today, the visiting delegates and heads of the states paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat in Delhi.