Thiruvananthapuram: In an enlightening interview with Malayalam news channel Asianet, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar offered a fresh perspective on global trade dynamics, stressing that the West should not be perceived as the “bad guy” in the context of flooding Asian and African markets with goods. He urged for a more nuanced understanding of global trade complexities, rejecting simplistic dichotomies between developed and developing nations.
“It is not the West which is flooding Asia and Africa with goods on a massive scale. I think we need to get over the syndrome of the past that the West is the bad guy and on the other side are the developing countries. The world is more complicated, the problems are much more complicated than that,” Minister Jaishankar stated.
Former Indian diplomat T P Sreenivasan conducted the insightful interview, where various global issues were addressed. When asked about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s absence at the G20 summit in New Delhi, Minister Jaishankar acknowledged that the reasons for such decisions are open to speculation.
He shed light on the growing resentment in various countries over the past two decades due to the inequities of globalization, emphasizing the adverse effects of markets being inundated with inexpensive products, subtly alluding to Chinese trade and economic policies.
Minister Jaishankar cautioned against scapegoating the West for these issues, highlighting that today’s globalization has led to a concentration of manufacturing that is impacting economies worldwide.
India’s remarkable achievements in various fields, including manufacturing, agriculture, space exploration (such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission), and vaccination efforts, have fostered a sense of solidarity among the Global South, encompassing the African Union. These nations perceive India as a partner capable of standing, growing, and progressing.
The interview also touched upon the achievements of the G20 Summit during India’s presidency and the challenges posed by Canada’s political space for the Khalistan group.
Minister Jaishankar underscored that the G20 Summit, under India’s leadership, successfully steered influential nations towards a path of growth and development while emphasizing initiatives for the Global South. He highlighted that India’s diplomacy and its focus on the Baltic region garnered significant interest and engagement.
He firmly stated that the Global South is more of a feeling of solidarity than a rigid definition, emphasizing the willingness to cooperate and collaborate.
World leaders at the recent G20 Summit in New Delhi commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decisive leadership and his championing of the Global South’s voice.
Furthermore, Minister Jaishankar welcomed the proposed economic corridor connecting India, Europe, and the Middle East, facilitating job opportunities for people from the Indian subcontinent.
Addressing the issue of people migrating abroad for employment, he touched upon the challenges posed by the activities of the Khalistan group in Canada and their impact on India’s relations with the country.
Minister Jaishankar urged countries, especially democracies, to balance their political compulsions with a sense of responsibility to the world and their own national image and well-being.
In conclusion, Minister Jaishankar emphasized that the G20 Summit showcased India’s confidence and leadership on the global stage, reshaping agendas, and highlighting the importance of a more inclusive and balanced approach to global governance.
Source PTI
