Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden are slated to engage in bilateral discussions on Friday evening, with a primary focus on strengthening the comprehensive global and strategic partnership between India and the United States.
Anticipated topics of discussion include the assessment of ongoing collaborative efforts in areas such as clean energy, trade, high technology, defense, and the potential contributions of both nations in addressing pressing global challenges.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi is expected to engage in separate bilateral meetings on Friday, involving discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth.
President Biden’s visit to New Delhi is in conjunction with his attendance at the G20 summit scheduled for September 9 and 10. This visit marks his inaugural trip to India as the President of the United States, succeeding the last visit by former President Donald Trump in February 2020. President Biden is set to arrive in New Delhi on Friday evening and is scheduled to depart for Vietnam on Sunday afternoon upon the conclusion of the G20 summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to make his way to New Delhi on September 9th for a two-day visit to participate in the G20 summit, as per official reports.
The G20 summit, presided over by India, is slated to unfold from September 9th to 10th.
Additional information from sources indicates that President Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are anticipated to engage in a bilateral meeting, potentially during a lunch gathering following the conclusion of the G20 summit on September 10th. Their last encounter took place in July, when Prime Minister Modi traveled to France to partake in the Bastille Day parade.
According to official sources cited by PTI, India’s G20 presidency has brought forth a range of innovative initiatives and accomplishments in preparation for hosting the upcoming summit of global economic leaders. Notably, India assumed a leading role in the annual G20 foreign ministers meeting by successfully presenting the G20 Foreign Ministers Outcome Document and Chair Summary (FMM ODCS), marking the first fully negotiated and endorsed document of its kind.
This comprehensive document highlighted key themes vital to member nations, encompassing the strengthening of multilateralism, combating terrorism, and addressing global health challenges, among other critical issues. In addition, India’s presidency facilitated the inaugural “Voice of the Global South Summit,” which saw participation from 125 countries across ten sessions over two days. This landmark event served as a platform for expressing concerns, sharing ideas, discussing challenges, and setting priorities for the developing world.
Furthermore, during India’s presidency, the G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) actively supported the launch of the Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (MAHARISHI). This initiative seeks to establish mechanisms for connecting researchers and institutions, promoting information sharing, and organizing capacity-building activities across G20 member countries.
India also played a pivotal role in the inception of the G20 EMPOWER group, which aims to accelerate women’s leadership and empowerment within the private sector. This alliance brings together G20 business leaders and governments with this common goal.
Following the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meeting, consensus was achieved on the creation of Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) and cybersecurity in the digital economy, as well as enhancing digital skills.
Lastly, India initiated the G20-Chief Science Advisers Roundtable (G20-CSAR), which engaged in discussions on various important issues. These discussions covered topics such as the potential for “one health” in improving disease control and pandemic preparedness, enhancing global access to scholarly scientific knowledge, promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in science and technology (S&T), and establishing an institutional framework for inclusive, continuous, and action-oriented global S&T policy dialogue.