India gave wings to hopes of Global South, Modi says at G20 summit

By focusing on inclusive, women-led development and youth power, India gave wings to the hopes and aspirations of the Global South, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Brazil on Monday.

“It is clear that One Earth, One Family, One Future is as relevant at this summit as it was last year,” Modi said in Rio De Janeiro, where he is attending the 19th G20 summit.

The summit was held in New Delhi last year under India’s presidency.

India has amplified the voice of the Global South by granting permanent membership of G20 to the African Union during the 18th G20 summit held in New Delhi last year, Modi said while speaking on this year’s theme: “Social Inclusion and the Fight against Hunger and Poverty.”

Regurgitating the Indian stance of making international institutions more inclusive, Modi said, “We will reform institutions of global governance.”

Congratulating Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the grand arrangements for the summit, Modi said, “The people-centric decisions taken at the G20 Summit in New Delhi have been taken forward during Brazil’s presidency.”

Pointing out that countries of the Global South are most adversely impacted by the food, fuel, and fertilizer crisis caused by global conflicts, he said, “Our discussions can only be successful when we keep in mind the challenges and priorities of the Global South.”

Supporting Brazil’s initiative for a global alliance against hunger and poverty,” Modi said, “This is an important step towards the implementation of the Deccan High-level principles for Food security, adopted at the New Delhi Summit.”

Modi said India has in recent years focused on sustainable agriculture, protection of the environment, nutrition, and food security by promoting millets.

On the sidelines of the summit, Modi held bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Portuguese premier Luís Montenegro, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Italian President Giorgia Meloni.

Modi also interacted with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He also met European Union President Ursula von der Leyen and assured her that India would keep working closely with the EU for the global good.