G20 Summit: New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration And Other Key Developments

As the Group of 20 Summit in New Delhi enters its second day, top leaders from different countries including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres were seen earlier today paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the dignitaries with an ‘angvastram’ or stole. An image of the well-known freedom fighter’s Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat could be seen in the background. Modi was seen explaining the significance of the ashram.

While some leaders, including Modi and Sunak, were seen walking barefoot, others wore white footwear offered to the visitors at the Rajghat. Later, the Indian PM tweeted about the development, underscoring Gandhi ji’s ideals guiding the vision for a harmonious future.

Key Developments On Day 1 Of G20 Summit

Adoption Of New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration

The members unanimously adopted the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, which called on countries to uphold international humanitarian law and territorial integrity to safeguard stability and peace. China and Russia, whose heads of state skipped the event, were also in agreement.

But while the declaration called on nations to avoid the use of force to grab territory, it fell short of condemning Russia for the conflict in Ukraine, which wasn’t invited to the summit. Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the declaration was “nothing to be proud of”.

African Union Inclusion

In an unprecedented move and a notable success of India’s G20 Presidency, the 55-member African Union was inducted as the new permanent member of the bloc, pushing forward a new global order and providing developing countries a greater say in international decision-making.

Launch Of Global Biofuel Alliance

On the first day of the meeting, India announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance, which would help accelerate efforts to address net zero emissions targets by facilitating trade in biofuels derived from plant and animal waste.

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India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

Ending speculations in the media space, a historic Memorandum of Understanding was inked on Day 1 of the event between India, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Italy and the EU to establish a rail and shipping corridor aimed at enhancing economic growth.

Biden called the project “a big deal”, thanking UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his key role in securing the deal. The mega move aimed at connecting different regions is expected to boost trade, transport energy resources and improve digital connectivity.

Reaffirming Commitment To G20

The leaders of the bloc’s current and next three presidencies – India alongside Brazil, South Africa and the US – met on the sidelines of the meeting to reaffirm their shared “commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation to deliver solutions.”

UAE-India CEPA Deal In Focus

New Delhi has invited the Emirates as a special guest to the G20 Summit 2023. The brotherly countries share rapidly enhancing bilateral relations, with non-oil trade between the nations reaching $50.5 billion in the first 12 months after the signing of a CEPA deal.

Since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was put into effect, India and the UAE have been seeing real momentum in bilateral trade. The Emirates is also the second-largest source of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas for India.