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New Delhi : External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said in Rajya Sabha on the first day of the winter session of Parliament on Wednesday that in ‘global engagements’, India has evinced keen interest in making
digital delivery, public health response and green growth are tools for empowering all sections of society.
“In our global engagements, we have discerned a strong interest in India’s digital delivery, public health response, green growth and development as well as the empowerment of all sections of society,” he said.
“Hon’ble Members are aware that the G20 is taking place in the larger context of a geopolitical crisis, food and energy insecurity, slow progress on Sustainable Development Goals, mounting debt burden and challenges to climate action and climate justice,” he said.
The Minister said the Government endeavours to build consensus within the G20, and champion causes, especially of the Global South and shape the setting of the agenda.
“This will also be an occasion for us to highlight the 3Ds of India: Development, Democracy and Diversity.
….There is also an enhanced interest in our democratic traditions which go way back in our pluralistic and
consultative culture. We envisage the G20 Presidency as an occasion to showcase India to the world. This will be done through cultural activities, regional festivals, technology programmes, sustainability initiatives, Millets promotion and also One District One Product promotion,” Dr Jaishankar said.
He maintained that India’s Presidency of the G-20 block would also witness a Jan Bhagidari, where all of
India would not just participate but celebrate this occasion.
“As the House is aware, the Government has briefed leaders of political parties in this regard. We see this as a
truly national endeavour and seek the cooperation of everybody to make it a success”.
Dr Jaishankar said, “India will provide a stronger voice to the issues of interest of the Global South. This is very much a part of our DNA. It was in evidence most recently during the Vaccine Maitri. Our emphasis will be on sharing the India story, caring for all and taking collective action”.
He further said – “It will focus on emphasizing our achievements and priorities such as digital India, clean energy, sustainable lifestyles, women-led development, and multilateral reforms. Prime Minister’s initiative on ‘LiFE’ – Lifestyle For Environment – and India’s Millet initiative which has resulted in the UN declaration of the year 2023 as International Year of Millets would also be prominent in India’s approach towards addressing the SDGs,” he said.
The Minister said, “Today, we are building stronger bridges with both developing countries and advanced economies. Apart from our G20 Presidency, we are members of a growing number of groups and mechanisms. Some of them are relatively established like the BRICS and Commonwealth. Others have been more recent like the Quad and SCO. And still others are emerging like the I2U2 and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework”.
India is also increasingly engaging the world in group formats, reflecting the growing interest on their part to
cooperate with India.
“I would also like to share with the House that the Ministers of MEA have been equally active during this period. I have myself hosted the Foreign Ministers of Maldives, France, Singapore, Bostwana, United Kingdom, Ghana, Gabon, Belarus, Syria, UAE and Germany in this period. I would also highlight the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable and the collective interaction with 12 African Ministers,” the Minister said.
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