India adopted unconventional approach to its G20 Presidency: EAM Jaishankar
2 August, 2023 | Anamika Singh Parihar
EAM Jaishankar stated “It is important for G20 member states to realize that what unites us is greater than what separates us."
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the G20 gathering faces many issues and that India chose an unconventional approach to its Presidency, which has made it much more relatable to common people. An important feature of Tuesday’s Think20 (T20) Summit on Mysuru’s second day was a virtual speech by EAM Jaishankar, which was followed by a high-level conversation with him.
Speaking on India’s G20 Presidency, Jaishankar said that there have been “some achievements, some work in progress, and some hope in progress”.
The T20, an official engagement group of the G20, brings together think tanks and top experts to discuss pertinent policy topics, acting as the G20’s “ideas bank.” During India’s G20 Presidency, the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is acting as the T20 Secretariat.
In his speech, Jaishankar noted that four points were particularly significant in relation to the current Indian G20 Presidency, as the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 is just over a month away.
Considering the G20’s enormous importance as a global organization, Jaishankar stated that “India must ensure a focus on the right issues and come up with an actionable consensus.”
The G20 must continue to be cohesive and unified, with “open discussion among all members, irrespective of their other affiliations,” according to the minister of external affairs.
Jaishankar emphasized that the G20 is now a more important organization than it may have been in the past due to the divisions within the UN Security Council. He claimed that the G20’s focus on growth and development made it a crucial force for the greater good at a time when global development is under strain.
“Multiple challenges confront the G20 today. There is a North-South divide and an East-West disconnect, Covid’s impact across sectors, the Ukraine conflict, a debt crisis, and trade disruptions. These factors have impeded efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to undertake climate action,” Jaishankar said.
A few notable achievements have been the successful outcomes of the June 2023 Development Ministers’ Meeting, agreement on the concept of sustainable lifestyles, a resolute focus on the obstacles to SDG advancement, a persistent and strong emphasis on development led by women, and advancements in the discussions regarding reforming multilateral development banks, according to Jaishankar.
“It is important for G20 member states to realize that what unites us is greater than what separates us,” he stated.
Former President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa hailed India for prioritizing women-led development.
Jaishankar also noted that “women are the glue that holds families and communities together”, and “women’s leadership at the workplace has also been a subject of great focus in India”.
In addition, Jaishankar said that women’s well-being has always been represented in instances of societal progress and expressed the hope that women-led development would also be emphasized at the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
The T20 Summit is hosting 200 people from 35 nations and around 110 institutions. They are eminent intellectuals, heads of think tanks and research institutes, heads of civil society groups, directors of multilateral agencies, and diplomats, whose combined influence will guarantee stimulating and varied dialogues at the Summit.
Under the auspices of India’s G20 Presidency, the Observer Research Foundation is hosting the T20 Summit.