In his opening remarks at the G20 virtual summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the urgent need for global collaboration in addressing the emerging challenges in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He welcomed the release of 50 hostages by the Hamas leadership, expressing hope for the swift release of the remaining captives.
PM Modi strongly condemned terrorism while stressing the importance of denouncing civilian casualties. He reiterated India's commitment to working jointly to find a resolution to the conflict and restore peace, emphasizing opposition to terrorism and violence.
"India is ready to work in the joint efforts to find a solution to the conflict and restore peace… terrorism and violence has to be opposed," PM Modi said.
Highlighting the potential escalation of the conflict into a broader geopolitical issue, the Prime Minister urged nations to work together in preventing such a scenario. He also raised concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and emphasized responsible AI introduction to ensure safety for society.
Under India's G20 presidency, PM Modi highlighted the increased focus on multilateralism and the central role given to the challenges faced by the Global South. He emphasized the need for supporting the development agenda for countries facing difficulties beyond their control.
PM Modi called for better, effective, and future-ready reforms to aid needy countries, expediting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the global fight against climate change. He stressed the necessity of concrete actions at the upcoming COP28 meeting.
Drawing attention to India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative, the Prime Minister noted its acceptance in G20 discussions and invited other nations to join. India pledged a $25 million contribution to the fund supporting social initiatives, encouraging other countries to participate.
PM Modi also highlighted the success of India's local-level aspiration district program in lifting millions out of poverty, inviting other nations to explore and learn from this example.
Also Read | In difficult phase of int'l politics, G20 Summit was bit plus: S. Jaishankar
