PM Modi Welcomed by Brazilian President at G20 Summit in Rio, Global Leaders Discuss Hunger and Sustainability
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as global leaders gathered for the 19th G20 Summit at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Modern Art. The two-day summit, themed “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,” marks a pivotal meeting for addressing critical global challenges.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Looking forward to the proceedings at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Thankful to President Lula for the warm welcome.”
Historic Milestones at the Summit
This G20 Summit sees the participation of the African Union as a full member for the first time, following its induction during the New Delhi Summit in 2023. In addition to the 19 member countries and the European Union, Brazil has invited 18 guest nations and 15 international organizations, creating a truly global platform for collaboration.
Brazil’s flagship deliverable, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, will be unveiled during the inaugural session. Open to G20 and non-G20 nations, this initiative aims to tackle global hunger and poverty through three pillars—national action, regional partnerships, and knowledge sharing. India is set to join both the national and knowledge pillars of the Alliance.
India’s Role and Key Agendas
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted India’s alignment with Brazil’s priorities, noting that several initiatives from the New Delhi Summit are being carried forward. These include:
- Food Security and Nutrition: India’s G20 Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security resonate with Brazil’s focus on hunger and poverty eradication.
- Multilateral Reforms: Efforts to modernize global governance institutions remain a shared goal, ensuring they are fit for 21st-century challenges.
- Development Banks: The roadmap for better, bigger, and more effective multilateral development banks, endorsed in New Delhi, will be further advanced at the Rio Summit.
PM Modi’s Engagements
Upon arriving at the venue, PM Modi interacted with several world leaders, including:
- US President Joe Biden
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
- UN Secretary General António Guterres
- World Bank President Ajay Banga
Continuity and Emerging Economies’ Leadership
The summit signifies a continued streak of Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDE) leading the G20, with South Africa set to assume the presidency in 2025. The transition underscores the growing influence of emerging economies in shaping global policies.
As the Rio Summit progresses, discussions are set to focus on sustainable development, energy transitions, bridging the digital divide, and tackling debt sustainability. The closing ceremony will see Brazil hand over the G20 Presidency to South Africa, ensuring the momentum of progressive agendas continues.
