Underscoring the importance of India’s participation this year, Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Manoj Kumar Bharti said that PM Modi’s visit may be short but will be “very important”.
This is because PM Modi will be formally taking over India’s G20 chairmanship for 2023.
“PM Modi’s coming to G20 is important because India is about to take the G20 Presidency from Indonesia, as far as Indonesia’s Presidency is concerned, India has continuously provided help to Indonesia, and the Indonesian government recognizes India’s cooperation too,” said the Indian envoy.
“The participation of the Prime Minister of India in this summit is also important in such a way that on the day before the appointment, the Prime Minister has launched the logo of our presidency and website, this is a very good opportunity to show our presidency in front of all the leaders of the world. Tell them about the success stories of India,” said the Indian envoy in Bali during an interview.
Guided by the vision of the Prime Minister, the foreign policy of India has been evolving to undertake leadership roles on the global stage.
The G20 logo launched by PM Modi draws inspiration from the vibrant colours of India’s national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue. It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges, said an official statement.
Unity theme
The theme of India’s G20 Presidency is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”.
In that context, PM Modi will be positioning India as a driving force of unity, underscoring a tricky road ahead as the nation seeks to balance between competing global powers.
Watch: PM Modi unveils logo, theme and website of India’s G20 presidency
Earlier, the Prime Minister noted that India’s G20 presidency is coming at a time of crisis and chaos in the world, referring the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
He added that India’s logo for the summit would be the lotus as a symbol of hope. “No matter how adverse the circumstances, the lotus still blooms.”
However, India is caught in a delicate balancing act with global powers since the war in Ukraine broke out and this will get amplified when it takes over the presidency.
The US and its allies have so far largely avoided pressuring New Delhi over its close ties with Russia, a key supplier of weapons and energy. And India is trying to draw closer to the US and the Quad, a grouping that includes Japan and Australia, as it stands up against China militarily and economically.
“Assuming the G-20 presidency at such a critical juncture is a challenging task at hand,” India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant wrote in a column in the Economic Times. “But India is well prepared to transform this challenge into an opportunity.”
India will use the presidency to focus on climate action, energy security, stronger public health systems and the accelerate the 2030 sustainable development goals, he added.
G20 agenda
During the G20 summit this year, India will raise the issues of renewable energy and the digital revolution.
“India taking forward the main points of Indonesia’s policy presidency, which are related to food and renewable energy security, health and digital transformation. However, it will also be a very good and appropriate occasion for our prime minister to tell the world leaders about the main theme of India’s presidency,” ambassador Manoj Bharti told ANI.
Bharti also said that PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders on the speculation in the diplomatic arena that he is likely to meet Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the summit. However, there is no confirmation from Indian side as of now.
The Prime Minister will also address and interact with the Indian community in Bali.
(With inputs from agencies)