PM Modi to Meet Mauritius PM and African Union Head at G20
Before his meeting with President Biden, Prime Minister Modi is set to engage in bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, during the upcoming G20 Summit. These meetings will be followed by a scheduled meeting and dinner with US President Joe Biden on Friday.
In addition, Prime Minister Modi is slated to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday. Furthermore, he will engage in talks with Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who serves as the chairperson of the African Union during the summit weekend. It's worth noting that India extended the invitation to the African Union to participate in the G20 Summit, with a primary focus on fostering economic growth and development in the pandemic-affected Global South.
A significant concern on the table is the mounting debt faced by African nations due to their involvement in China's Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese EXIM banks have been swapping debt for equity in major infrastructure projects, such as ports, railroads, and highways, across the African continent. PM Modi, as the host, may have limited time for additional bilateral meetings during the summit, contingent on the travel schedules of the esteemed visiting leaders.
Ahead of the summit, PM Modi received briefings from the G20 Sherpa and secretariat on pertinent summit issues. Furthermore, a briefing for the Union Council of Ministers is scheduled to take place before the summit officially commences.
While preparations for the G20 communique are underway, leaders will have to navigate geopolitical matters like the Ukraine situation and Climate Change, despite the G-20's primary focus on economic growth and development. Two critical issues for negotiation and resolution at the ministerial and summit levels are Ukraine and the debate surrounding the phase-out of coal in favor of other fossil fuels to address climate change.
Although the coal versus other fossil fuels debate is slated for discussion at COP28 in Dubai later this November-December in the UAE, it will be a hotly debated topic at the G20 Summit, with expectations of reaching a consensus on green development objectives. There appears to be widespread agreement on prioritizing sustainable development goals and promoting the cultivation of millets to bolster global food security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains dedicated to uplifting the economies of the Global South, with a particular emphasis on Africa, which has been severely impacted by the global pandemic and is in need of support from the G20 group to facilitate recovery and counter the political instability affecting various regions.
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