In time of global strife, India’s civilizational ethos can provide healing touch — PM Modi

Spotlighting that the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi is taking place at a time of “big global divisions”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the participating countries to draw inspiration from India’s civilizational ethos to focus on solidarity instead of division.

“As we meet in the land of Gandhi and Buddha, I pray that you will draw inspiration from India’s civilization ethos to focus on what unites us and not on what divides us,” said PM Modi in his video address at the meeting which is witnessing participation of as many as 40 delegations from G20 member and invitee countries and international organisations.

Admitting that the meeting will be affected by the geo-political tensions of the day as everyone has their positions and perspectives as to how the tension should be resolved, Prime Minister Modi asserted that all must acknowledge that multilateralism is in crisis today.

“The architecture of the global governance created after the Second World War was to prevent future wars by balancing competing interests and to foster international cooperation on issues of common interest.

“In the last few years, financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and war clearly show that global governance has failed in both its mandates. We must also admit that the tragic consequences of this failure are being faced most by developing countries,” said PM Modi.

Welcoming the Foreign Ministers, PM called for the need for purpose and unity of action under India’s G20 Presidency theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, hoping that the meeting will reflect the spirit of coming together for achieving common and concrete objectives.

The leading economies, he said, also have a responsibility towards “those who are not in this room” as the world looks upon the G20 to ease the challenges of growth, development, economic resilience, financial stability, corruption, terrorism and food and energy security.

“After years of progress, we are at risk today of moving back on the sustainable development goals. Many developing countries are struggling with unsustainable debt while trying to ensure food and energy security for their people.”

The agenda of the first G20 India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting aims at steering the world towards inclusive and resilient growth, action-oriented green development, sustainable lifestyles and technological transformation.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar welcomed all the participating Foreign Ministers at the meeting venue, including the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who arrived late Wednesday from Uzbekistan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has also arrived in the Indian capital for the meeting with EAM Jaishankar set to hold bilateral talks with both Blinken and his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the event today.