Sansad TV Perspective: G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: ‘G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting’.

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Participants:

1. Yogesh Gupta, Former Ambassador
2. Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Foreign Affairs Editor, Hindustan Times
3. Dr. Gulshan Sachdeva, Professor, Centre for European Studies, JNU

Context: A meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers under India’s Presidency was held in New Delhi on March 02, 2023.

Highlights of the Discussion:

1. Introduction
2. Focus areas
3. Significance to India
4. Strengthening Multilateralism
5. Food and Energy Security

Introduction:

• G20 Foreign Ministers met on 1-2 March 2023 in New Delhi. 
• G20 deliberations and macro policy cooperation provide a valuable opportunity for bringing fresh perspectives and forging durable solutions to collectively respond to contemporary global challenges. 
• Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency, with the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’, the G20 Foreign Ministers deliberated upon current global challenges. 
• The meeting chaired by Mr. Jaishankar ended with a “Chair’s Summary and Outcome Document” issued by India.

Focus Areas of the Discussion:

• Delegates at the meeting held two rounds of discussions on contemporary challenges around multilateralism, food & energy security, development cooperation, countering new & emerging threats, global skill mapping and humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction (HADR) issues. 
• The outcome document issued at the end reiterated the need for a more inclusive and reinvigorated multilateralism and reform aimed at implementing the 2030 agenda. 
• Expressing concern over the challenges to global food security exacerbated by current conflicts and tensions, G20 Foreign Ministers called for keeping supply chains of both food and agricultural products including fertilisers reliable, open and transparent. 
• Delegates at the meeting also reaffirmed the steadfast commitments to tackle climate change and achieve global net zero greenhouse gas emissions/carbon neutrality by or around mid-century. 
• Terrorism in all its forms was condemned at the meeting saying a holistic approach on the basis of international law can effectively counter terrorism.
• However, there was no consensus on a joint statement of the meeting because of opposition from China and Russia to a reference to the Ukraine war in the joint communique issued at the 2022 Bali Summit.

Significance to India:

• As underlined by Prime Minister Modi, India’s twin ambitions are to continue the campaign to reform multilateralism and to get the world to take greater cognisance of the challenges faced by the “Global South”.
• India has been positioning itself as a leading voice of developing countries known as the Global South in recent years.
• The presidency of the G20 provides a great opportunity for India to bring focus on issues it sees as more urgent for the developing world. 
• It has put climate change, the increasing burden of debt on developing nations, digital transformation, rising inflation and food and energy security on the agenda.

Way Forward: Strengthening Multilateralism

• The United Nations must be responsive to the entire membership, faithful to its founding purposes and principles of its Charter and adapted to carry out its mandate.
• Challenges faced by developing countries are inter-connected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism, reforms and international cooperation. 
• A more inclusive and reinvigorated multilateralism and reform aimed at implementing the 2030 agenda is essential to adequately address contemporary global challenges of the 21st century and to make global governance more representative, effective, transparent and accountable.
• The rules-based, free, fair, open, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, is indispensable to advancing shared objectives of inclusive growth, innovation, job creation and sustainable development as well as to supporting the resilience and recovery of a global economy under strain due to Covid-19 and global supply chain disruption. 

Way Forward: Food and Energy Security 

• Challenges to global food security are exacerbated by current conflicts and tensions. Promoting the availability, accessibility, affordability, sustainability, equity and transparent flow of food and agricultural products to fight hunger and malnutrition, is the need of the hour. 
• Promoting efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agriculture and food systems is necessary to address the vulnerabilities of developing countries. 
• Support for increased cooperation in areas like agrobiodiversity, minimising food loss and waste, improving soil health, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture, connecting local, regional and international markets, and strengthening Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), as well as promoting healthy diets and nutritious foods is essential. 
• Special attention is required to address the food insecurity and malnutrition of women and girls, communities and people in vulnerable situations.
• Undisrupted, sustainable, and resilient supply chains are important to ensure affordable and sustainable access to energy for all. Strengthening sustainable supply chains as well as circular approaches and promoting inclusive investments are necessary to meet growing energy demand. 
• It is essential to accelerate the adoption of renewable and clean energy sources while promoting smart and clean energy technologies to increase energy efficiency.

Read all the previous Sansad TV Perspective articles in the link.

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