“In anticipation of the forthcoming G-20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has meticulously outlined a series of one-on-one discussions and bilateral meetings with prominent world leaders. The intricate schedule encompasses meetings with United States President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Due to the rigorous timeline and logistical intricacies of the G-20 summit, Prime Minister Modi has allocated distinct times for these interactions. A tête-à-tête with President Biden is slated for Friday evening, while bilateral deliberations with President Macron are scheduled for Sunday, following the conclusion of the high-level sessions.
Sources have revealed that Prime Minister Modi is inclined to host a dinner for President Biden, with due consideration for any potential jet lag stemming from the latter’s arrival schedule. Conversely, President Macron is expected to join Prime Minister Modi for a Sunday afternoon luncheon, accompanied by bilateral discussions.
Furthermore, it has emerged that Prime Minister Modi seeks to engage in bilateral dialogues with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as extensive one-on-one conversations between the two leaders have been notably absent in recent months.
The overarching theme of the G-20 summit is expected to revolve around discussions concerning the Ukraine conflict and its far-reaching ramifications on the global economy. However, Prime Minister Modi’s principal focus remains firmly fixed on utilizing this gathering as a platform to accentuate the concerns of the global south, with particular emphasis on the 17 sustainable development goals. This strategic approach is grounded in a sobering 2021 United Nations report, which underscored the disruptive impact of the global pandemic on these pivotal goals.
The UN report, released amidst the backdrop of four million pandemic-related fatalities and the troubling specter of poverty, chronic hunger, and the loss of 255 million jobs, places the origins of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, into sharp relief.
Prime Minister Modi’s G-20 summit agenda places distinct emphasis on Africa, a region that bore the brunt of pandemic-related adversity among global southern territories. In this vein, he advocates for Africa to secure a permanent seat at the G-20 summit table. As developed nations deliberate over financial commitments to address climate change, Prime Minister Modi is expected to champion the cause of green development and eco-centric objectives to safeguard the planet from climate-induced cataclysms.
Within this contextual framework, Prime Minister Modi is poised to endorse millets as a vital component of global food security. These resilient grains exhibit remarkable adaptability to adverse climatic conditions and elevated temperatures.
While financial assistance and technology transfer from affluent nations to discourage coal utilization for energy production in the global south remains a pressing issue, Prime Minister Modi will promote a shift in worldwide lifestyles—a concept he dubs “mission LIFE”—to protect the environment.
Another pivotal facet of Prime Minister Modi’s G-20 summit agenda is the development and empowerment of women, an objective necessitated by the pandemic-induced regression in women’s progress worldwide. This objective aligns seamlessly with Modi’s vision of inclusivity, ensuring that no individual is marginalized—a principle he has successfully enacted through domestic initiatives such as “antodhya.”
As the summit’s commencement looms, world leaders will engage in eleventh-hour diplomatic negotiations, seeking consensus on strategies to propel global economic growth and development.”