By SHRI RAM SHAW

New Delhi: To decode the success of India’s G20 summit and map the way ahead, the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, in association with India Writes Network and Centre for Global India Insights, organized a Panel Discussion on “India’s G20 Legacy: Inclusive Growth & Rise of the Global South” at JNU recently. It focused on the signature outcomes of India’s first-ever G20 summit in New Delhi, which have set the stage for fashioning a more inclusive world order by reflecting the interests and aspirations of the Global South.

The conference was attended by eminent diplomats, academics and experts. Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa; Brazil’s Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski da Nóbrega; South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Joel Sibusiso Ndebele; Alem Tsesaye Woldemariam, Eritrea’s Ambassador to India & Dean, Diplomatic Corps in India; Alejandro Simancas Marin, Cuba’s Ambassador to India; Amb. Kanwal Sibal, Chancellor, JNU; former Foreign Secretary, MEA; Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, JNU Vice Chancellor; and Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli, Dean, JNU enriched the discussion with their valuable insights. Manish Chand, India Writes Network & Director, Centre for Global India Insights moderated the event.

In his address Amitabh Kant said, “The recent expansion of G20 covers 90% of the World’s population and 3/4th of the Global Trade. The lasting memory that I will carry as the Sherpa of G20 is watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi embrace the president of Comoros and the chairperson of the African Union. The African Union was a priority as compared to other regional groupings under G20. India has made G20 more inclusive by bringing AU into the grouping.”

On Russia-Ukraine war, Kant said, “Initially proposed by 9 countries, 15 basic principles were outlined, after which the United States, Canada, Russia, and China contributed to the document, there were disagreements even within the G7. Each country had its own red lines, extremes were pushed. The 16th draft had failed, as the United States has opposed it, finally, on day two, a corner was turned, the negotiations turned out to be fruitful, and the 17th draft was passed.”

“New Delhi Leaders Declaration is a very hard-fought victory for the Global South. Many crises persisted, and the emerging markets suffered through a pandemic and a conflict in Ukraine, therefore, the Prime Minister stated that India’s presidency must be inclusive, decisive, ambitious, and action-oriented. As a testament to that vision, the New Delhi Leaders Declaration is an exhaustive document consisting of 93 paragraphs, 87 outcomes and 112 documents attached to it. This is the longest declaration ever written in G20 history,” Amitabh Kant added.

He further said, “This document is devoid of any reservations, any dissent, any footnote or objections from any country, these all have been arrived at through consensus By doing so India has brought multilateralism to centre stage, which was receding at one point – brought the development of global south at centre stage, climate action and climate financing at centre stage, reform of multilateral development banks and multilateral financing architecture at centre stage, technology transfer and Digital public infrastructure at centre stage and women-led development at centre stage.”

“All in all, India has demonstrated that it is possible in today’s World for an emerging market like India to bring consensus among other emerging markets- Russia, China and G7 in a highly fragmented World order and move towards multilateralism,” Kant added.

Kanwal Sibal said, “There is a broad framework, where countries agree to a set of rules and principles, however, when the reality sets in, countries more often than not contradict themselves. For instance, the two-state solution on Israel and Palestine, while most nations agree with it. However, the ground reality is different. The same goes for the G20, the manifestation of agendas and declarations can be a challenge.”

“The G20 is facing challenges from BRICS, due to which there is a fragmentation between the East and the West. The expansion of BRICS is a threat to G20. In fact, G20 may also not be enough, another multilateral organization is needed. India put the Global South agenda through the voice of Global South conference in New Delhi. India can’t be a broker between the East and the West. Rather India must take the leadership of the Global South,” Sibal added.

He further said, “South Africa’s role in attempting to broker peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its assertiveness in being vocal in the Israel-Palestine conflict is a testament to the increasing role of the Global South in International Politics. The West have high expectations from the Global South. At times, the demands are unrealistic. Such as the expectation of attaining a green transition when the funds are low and technology transfers are at minimal. Prime Minister Modi’s push for the utilization of millets can address the food insecurity crisis in some African nations.”

 

By ramshaw

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