Prime Minister Narendra Modi Set to Kick Off G20 Summit in India with Key Address on Day One
During the G20 summit at the Bharat Mandapam venue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen greeting world leaders with a replica of the Konark Wheel in the background. This wheel is a replica of the one originally from the Sun Temple in Puri, Odisha. The wheel depicts India’s extensive historical knowledge, advanced civilization, and architectural brilliance, and it has also been incorporated into the Indian Tricolour.
Welcoming world leaders and foreign delegates who will be attending the Summit, President Droupadi Murmu said, “India’s G20 Presidency theme, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’, is a global roadmap for sustainable, inclusive, and human-centric development. I wish the participants of the G20 Summit every success in their efforts towards realizing this vision.”
G20 Welcomes African Union as Permanent Member, Expanding Global Partnership
On Saturday, the G20 welcomed the African Union as a permanent member after a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was approved by all member countries. Following this, Prime Minister Modi invited Azali Assoumani, the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), to take his seat at the G20 high table.
Amid cheers and applause, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar escorted Assoumani to his seat. PM Modi and Assoumani shared a warm hug to celebrate the momentous occasion. India has been advocating for the African Union’s G20 membership for a long time. In June of this year, PM Modi wrote to the G20 leaders, urging them to make AU a permanent member of the grouping.
