G20 Summit 2023 highlights: PM Modi visits ‘Crafts Bazaar’ at Bharat Mandapam

World Bank President Ajay Banga said, “I consider the fact that there was a declaration, a tribute to the fact that the G 20 leadership found a way to give and take and negotiate and find a right way to agree and set a path to the world. The world is watching... 80% of the world's GDP was sitting in the room. If they would not agree that would not give a good message,” ANI reported.

 "I actually compliment India, its leadership and the G20 leaders for being able to make sure that a terrific declaration comes out...There will be always challenges. No 20 countries will agree on everything. People will have to look after their national interests. But I am optimistic by the mood I saw in that room..." he said.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Saturday said that the national capital is receiving rains due to the blessings of Lord Indra to ensure a pleasant stay for the guests who have arrived for the G20 Summit.

Giorgia Meloni privately signalled to Chinese Premier Li Qiang that Italy is planning to exit from an investment pact that has become a test of her nation’s relations with the US. Read the full story here

Dignitaries from across the world in Delhi for the G20 summit experienced musical performances from 78 artists that showcased India’s rich musical heritage using Hindustani, Carnatic, and folk instruments at the G20 gala dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

The ceremonial dinner was held on Saturday night at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the G20 Leaders Summit in the national capital that celebrated the country’s rich musical heritage – a mix of different styles of classical and contemporary music.

The musical arrangements encompassed the usage of various rare instruments showcasing our unparalleled and unique musical heritage.

These instruments include Sursingar, Mohan Veena, Jaltarang, Jodiya Pawa, Dhangali, Dilruba, Sarangi, Kamaicha, Matta Kokila Veena, Naltarang, Tungbuk, Pakhawaj, Rabab, Ravanhattha, Thal Dana, Rudra Veena, among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a fresh push for reforms in global bodies including the United Nations, saying despite the increase in member states of the world body, the number of permanent members in the UN Security Council has remained the same.

Addressing the "One Future" session of the G20 Summit here, the prime minister said the world's 'new realities' should be reflected in 'new global structure'.

He said the world was different when the UN was founded with 51 members. Now the number of member states has risen to nearly 200, Modi said.

It is nature's law, Modi said, that those who don't change with times lose their relevance.

India and Saudi Arabia are likely to sign an energy cooperation memorandum of understanding after a luncheon meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, reports Reuters.

Ahead of the second day of the G20 Summit on Sunday, global leaders gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at Rajghat in New Delhi to pay their respects.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on G20:

The historic G20 Summit in New Delhi has successfully concluded. India’s Presidency under the visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi has left an indelible mark on the world stage. 

The consensus reached during the G20 Summit in New Delhi marks a historic milestone in bridging the global trust deficit and cultivating global trust and confidence.

The G20 Declaration, encompassing a consensus statement on the Ukraine war and other actionable tasks, demonstrates India's remarkable ability to bring the nations closer and transcend their differences for a common objective.

The G20 has launched the 'India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor', enhancing India's strategic involvement with the Arabian Peninsula and Europe. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for India to establish long-lasting connectivity between India and Arabia.

Under India's G20 Presidency, the African Union has been given permanent membership in the Group, fostering inclusivity and deepening cooperation with Africa. The admission of the African Union into the G20 is a significant achievement for PM Modi’s 'Global South' initiative.

PM Shri Narendra Modi has successfully demonstrated Bharat's prowess as both a 'Vishwa Guru' and 'Vishwa Bandhu'. His inclusive and people-centric approach has truly defined Bharat's G20 Presidency. I congratulate PM Modi for his exemplary leadership and vision.

• Russia praises G20 consensus declaration that avoid direct criticism of Moscow for the war in Ukraine as 'balanced"

• EU official says Ukraine issue was the most contentious issue and dragged out negotiations until the last moment

• G20 leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gather at Rajghat, the memorial to the father of the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi, on the banks of the Yamuna river.

• Britain commits $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund to help developing countries cope with climate change

• Biden skips final session of the summit, flies to Vietnam for talks

Inputs from Reuters

Marking the ceremonial transfer of the G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday handed over the gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who hailed India for giving voice to topics of interests of emerging economies.

At the concluding session, Modi handed over the gavel and offered best wishes to Brazil for the presidency. Brazil officially will take over the mantle of the presidency of the elite grouping on December 1 this year. (PTI)

Welcoming the announcement of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described it as the "largest cooperation project in our history" that will "change the face of the Middle East, Israel, and will affect the entire world".

The new economic corridor, which many see as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced on Saturday by the leaders of the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a working lunch meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron today. PM will hold a pull-aside meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and will later do bilateral meetings with Comoros, Turkey, UAE, South Korea, EU/EC, Brazil and Nigeria, ANI reports.

Statement by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Session III of the G20, 'One Future': 

One thing seems clear - the future will be digital. Today I want to focus on AI & digital infrastructure. As it has been described, AI has risks but also offers tremendous opportunities. The crucial question is how to harness a rapidly changing technology. It is telling that even the makers and inventors of AI are calling on political leaders to regulate.

What the world does now will shape our future. I believe that Europe – and its partners - should develop a new global framework for AI risks. It should protect us against systemic societal risks and foster investments in safe and responsible AI systems, at the same time. At global level we eventually need to reach the broader community of the United Nations.

We would need a similar body to the IPCC for climate, and here we need additional outreach to the scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators. They need to provide knowledge on the risks posed by AI – as well as the potential benefits for humanity.

Second, on Digital Public Infrastructures. They can be a real booster to emerging economies. India has achieved remarkable success in rolling out its Digital Public Infrastructures. We heard the Prime Minister, and we very much support his initiative.

Amidst the bustling corridors of the G20 summit venue in New Delhi, an unsung hero of art and culture, hailing from the heartland of Bihar, Mithila Shanti Devi's presence at the G20 summit is a testament to the enduring power of art to connect people and cultures, said Press Information Bureau in a social media post.

It adds, her exquisite Madhubani paintings have brought her not just acclaim but also the coveted National Award for her extraordinary craftsmanship.

A delegate from South Africa Zodwa Lallie visited the craft expo at the Bharat Mandapam, She says, "I think it is absolutely marvellous. It is an absolute showcase of craftsmanship and the beauty of handmade items from India...What is great is the way it empowers women from rural areas. More than anything else, it's just a beautiful showcase."

"I think it (craft exhibition) is wonderful...I think the presidency has done a very good job of being a voice of the global south & the fact that they managed to get a consensus is a testament to the leadership of G20...," says Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres. 

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday hailed India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant for the 'Delhi Declaration' consensus, and said it was a "proud moment for India at G20".

Tagging Kant's remarks in an interview on how the consensus was achieved on the paragraphs on Russia-Ukraine, Tharoor said in a post on X, "Well done @amitabhk87!Looks like the IFS lost an ace diplomat when you opted for the IAS!"

"'Negotiated with Russia, China, only last night got final draft,' says India's G20 Sherpa on 'Delhi Declaration' consensus. A proud moment for India at G20!" Tharoor, a former under secretary-general, said in his post late Saturday night.

The monsoon rains eased as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed world leaders to the Raj Ghat memorial complex in central Delhi on Sunday, site of the eternal flame that burns for Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi led the nonviolent protests that brought India independence from British colonial rule in 1947. And Modi’s decision to use the second and final day of his Group of 20 summit to remind his guests of the Father of Nation was another message signaling India’s rise.

Symbolism is hard to escape in the so-called family photograph. It’s a G-20 tradition that offers a rare, unvarnished glimpse of the interaction between leaders — the warmth or chill of greetings, the backslapping, side chats, scowls or moments of awkwardness - and so points to the state of world relations.

Absent from this year’s lineup were China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, both of whom skipped the summit amid tensions with the US and its allies.

* Russia praises G20 consensus declaration that avoid direct criticism of Moscow for the war in Ukraine as 'balanced"

* EU official says Ukraine issue was the most contentious issue and dragged out negotiations until the last moment

* G20 leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gather at Rajghat, the memorial to the father of the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi, on the banks of the Yamuna river.

* Britain commits $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund to help developing countries cope with climate change

* Biden skips final session of summit, flies to Vietnam for talks

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, representing the G20 presidencies of last year and the next year, handed over a sapling each to current chair Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

The symbolic ceremony took place at the start of the third session, 'One Future', of the G20 Summit.

First Widodo handed over the sapling to Modi and then Lula da Silva presented the sapling to the prime minister, amidst applause from other leaders.

The G20 leaders summit will draw to a close this afternoon with India handing over the G20 presidency to Brazil.

Chief Co-ordinator of India's G20 presidency Harsh Vardhan Shringla says, "It was momentous because, in a normal multilateral process, you have to go to the end of any Summit to attain a consensus on an outcome document...The fact that we have come up with the consensus document with the support of our G20 partners on the first day of our presidency, is a tremendously positive news."

The negotiations to arrive at the New Delhi declaration which was adopted by G20 leaders were “cumbersome” but it was in line with our discussions, said a European Union official familiar with the negotiations. The official said the EU was “satisfied with the text”.

The official praised the Indian leadership for its “wonderful job” and added that the New Delhi declaration was a “stepping stone” to bringing peace in Ukraine.

The declaration document which stated G20 countries will “unite” for a “just, and durable peace” in Ukraine will be helpful going ahead, the official added.

The New Delhi declaration adopted on Saturday, read, “We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.”

Biofuel alliance can generate opportunities worth USD 500 billion in the next three years for G20 countries, according to Indian Biogas Association (IBA).

Biofuel alliance can be a win-win situation for G20 countries and the environment, IBA said.

According to a study by the IBA, the biofuel alliance can generate opportunities worth USD 500 billion in the next three years for G20 countries.

The findings of the study assume significance as India is currently hosting the G20 leaders' Summit in New Delhi.

Biogas can generate an opportunity of USD 200 billion, considering the least investment required, compared to other energy generation options and easy availability of raw materials, it stated.

Bioenergy/Biogas, in principle, has the potential to replace fossil fuels completely, especially to decarbonize the transport sector, it pointed out.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not be arrested if he attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro next year, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said.

The Russian president is skipping this year's gathering in New Delhi, avoiding possible political opprobrium and any risk of criminal detention under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

India is not a member of the ICC, which issued the warrant in March over accusations of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children, a war crime.

The Kremlin insists the warrant against Putin is "void".

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and President of Brazil Luiz Inacio hand over a sapling to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Session 3 of the G20 Summit.