Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you for joining us for this special media briefing. I know there is a lot of interest since we've called it a new initiative and I assure you, you will not be disappointed. We have with us to give a sense of this new initiative, Foreign Secretary Sir, Shri Vinay Kwatra. Also joining us on the dais Shri Prabhat Kumar OSD (ER and DPA), as well as Joint Secretary looking after Public Policy and Research (PP&R), Dr. Sumit Seth. Sir, without further ado, I'll handover the microphone to you. But just with one comment, but perhaps at the question stage, this is a special briefing on this topic, this is not a press conference in the beginning of the year with Foreign Secretary. Floor is your sir.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: That shall come in fullness of time. Okay, thank you very much Arindam, and good afternoon to our friends from the media to this special briefing this afternoon. I think my first one of the new year. So let me take this opportunity, first of all, to wish each one of you and your families all the very best for the New Year and good health, wellbeing on the soul to all of you. I'm very happy to announce a new and unique initiative that India will be taking this year. We will be hosting a special virtual Summit on 12th and 13th January 2023, i.e. the next week. This Summit which will be called the Voice of Global South Summit under the theme – ‘Unity of voice, Unity of purpose’, essentially envisages bringing together countries of the global South and share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform across a whole range of issues. More than 120 countries are being invited for this Voice of Global South Summit. This initiative is inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’, and is also underpinned by India's philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
As you are aware, India has always been in the forefront and consistently championed the cause of the developing world. We have been strongly articulating the interest and concerns of our partners in the global South in all international fora, and mechanisms. Now, you're all aware of the recent global developments, which have severely impacted the developing world across many domains. Some elements of this impact include - one, of course, the COVID pandemic, and the serious impact that the pandemic has had on countries across the world, the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, increasing difficulties of access and affordability of food, fertilizer, and fuel, and hence the derivative challenges of food and energy security. Climate change, in particular, issues relating to climate finance, and climate technology, increasing burdens on developing countries in the areas like mounting debt, inflationary pressures, that are also beginning to take toll on the structural parameters of their economies. Often, however, these concerns of the developing world do not receive due attention and space on the global stage. Often also, the relevant existing platforms have proven to be inadequate in addressing these challenges and concerns of the developing countries. As such, a consultative and outcome oriented conversation focused on the most pressing concerns, interests and priorities of the developing countries is the need of hour.
The Voice of Global South Summit is India's endeavour to provide a common platform to deliberate on these concerns, interests and priorities that affect the developing countries also to exchange ideas and solutions, and most importantly, to unite in voice and purpose in addressing these elements of our concerns and priorities. India will work to ensure that the valuable inputs generated from partner countries in the Voice of Global South Summit deliberations receive due cognizance globally. India's ongoing presidency of the G20 provides us a special and strong opportunity to channelize these inputs into the deliberation and discourse of the G20. While assuming our Presidency, you would recall, Prime Minister Modi had said that India's G20 priorities would be shaped in consultation with not just G20 partners, with whom we, of course, cooperate and consult very closely, but also with our fellow travellers in the Global South, whose voice often goes unheard. This Summit will thus also be an opportunity for those countries that are not part of the G20 process, especially those countries that are not part of the G20 process to share their ideas and expectations through this mechanism with the G20.
In terms of the broad outline of the program of the Summit, which is still in a planning phase and is developing and evolving, the Summit, envisages 10 sessions over the period of two days. As I said, these are still being planned. Two of these sessions are planned to be held at the levels of the head of the state and head of the government and eight sessions will be at the ministerial level. Each session would have a group of a set of 10 to 20 countries participating in each of these sessions. Naturally, as we would expect, the two leaders’ sessions would be hosted by the Prime Minister. The remaining eight sessions would be led by various Ministers with the participation of their counterparts from the invited countries. And as I mentioned in the beginning, more than 120 invitations are being sent across for participation across these 10 sessions. Inaugural leaders’ session would be in the forenoon of the 12th. And the theme of the discussions in that inaugural session would revolve around ‘Voice of Global South - for human centric development’. The Finance Ministers’ session which is expected to be the one of the ministerial sessions, the discussions in Finance Ministers’ session would revolve around the theme of ‘Financing People Centric Development’, given that key element of development has to focus on centricity of people. The theme of this session is being planned and shaped accordingly.
The Environment Ministers’ session, which would be another ministerial session, would focus on the theme on ‘Balancing Growth with Environment Friendly Lifestyles’. You're all aware of the initiative that the Prime Minister launched which was Lifestyle for Sustainable Environment. The idea was that this session would afford an opportunity for the Ministers to focus on sustainable lifestyles that are also green and environment friendly at the same time. The one of the two Foreign Ministers’ session would be on the theme of ‘Priorities of the Global South - Ensuring a Conducive Environment’.
On day two of this Summit, we would be looking at essentially five ministerial sessions and of course, the concluding session of these five ministerial sessions. Many would be held in parallel because of the need to factor in the different time zones and also to accommodate widest possible participation in these sessions. So, three parallel sessions would be in the first half of January 13th. We are still developing the timelines of the program and the specificity. One of them would be the Energy Ministers’ session, which would focus on the theme ‘Energy Security and Development - Roadmap to Prosperity’. Then there would be in parallel the Health Ministers’ session, which would focus on the theme and naturally coming out of the COVID 19 pandemic as the world is doing, to focus on ‘Cooperation to build Resilient Healthcare Systems’. That would be the theme of the Health Ministers’ session.
The Education Ministers’ session would focus on the theme of ‘Human Centric Development and Capacity Building’ among the countries of the Global South, an element which is a very important element in the development journey of the countries of the Global South. The two more parallel sessions which will be held in the second half of day two on January 13th. The first of them would be the commerce and trade ministers’ session, which would be focusing on the theme broadly speaking, titled ‘Developing Synergies in the Global South - Trade, Technology, Tourism and Resources’, an important element of cooperation within among the countries of the Global South. And given the ongoing Indian Presidency of the G20, the Foreign Ministers’ session on day two would focus on the theme G20 I mean, it is as straightforward as it can be ‘G20 - Suggestions for India's Presidency’. We would like to hear from countries that are not members of the G20 to share with us as to what they think in their scheme of things could be included in the discourse within the framework of the G20.
The concluding leaders’ session will be hosted by the Prime Minister on the theme which I read out in the beginning itself, which is the ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’. And at the conclusion of the Summit, we propose to release a summary of priorities and perspectives, inputs and ideas that the participating leaders and Ministers would hopefully share during the Summit. Let me stop here with those brief opening remarks with regard to the Voice of Global South Summit proposed for 12th & 13th January and try and see how many of your questions I can take. Thank you.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you sir. As I said we will open the floor for questions but before that again please stick to the topic that is there. And since I saw you first I start with you. Please introduce yourself and the organization.
Kavita Joshi: Good afternoon Sir, Happy New Year Sir. Main kavita joshi hoon Hari Bhoomi Newspaper se, Sir, aapne jaisa abhi kaha starting mein apni opening remarks mein ki ye jo Summit hai ye Global developments ke saaye mein ho raha hai jisamen Covid pandemic aur Ukraine crisis, food, energy security hai. Sir is issue pe kya ye jo tamam issues hain aur ye jo summit hone vala hai ismen 100 se jyada countries aa rahe hain, kya China ka aur Ukraine ka hamne unko invite kiya hai aur unka kiss tarah ka participation summit mein rahega? Sir isi se juda hua kya summit ke end mein koi joint declaration bhi matlab samne aayega, Thank you Sir.(Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Kavita Joshi, Hari Bhoomi Newspaper. Good afternoon, Sir, Happy New Year Sir, I am Kavita Joshi from Hari Bhoomi Newspaper, Sir, as you just said in your opening remarks in the beginning that this summit is happening in the backdrop of global developments, including Covid pandemic and Ukraine crisis, food, energy security. Sir, more than 100 countries are invited to this summit, have we invited China and Ukraine, what kind of participation they will have in the summit? Sir, will there be a joint declaration at the end of the summit? Thank you Sir.
Sidhant: I’m Sidhant from WION. My question is have we invited all the countries in our neighbourhood, especially countries in our neighbourhood who are towards our west – like Pakistan, Afghanistan?
Yeshi: Sir this is Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. I'd like to know how many heads of state are virtually going to take part in this conference and which are the non G20 countries who are going to take part.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry, Yeshi I have to interrupt you on the last question. There are more than 120 invitations, which are being sent. There are obviously lots and lots of countries which are non-G20. So I hope you withdraw that question. How many heads of state you asked.
Sudhi Ranjan: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Any elaboration that you can give us on the Summit that the Finance Minister is holding. Any particular, any discussions that we're doing on debt?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: The ministerial?
Sudhi Ranjan: The ministerial on debt of the Global South and access to finance.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sir I think we'll stick to these four and then we will come around another set of questions. So basically, sir, if I could summarize for you Kavita wanted to know about China, Ukraine invite and joint declaration; Sidhant, are all countries in our neighbourhood particularly in the West invited; Yeshi, on how many heads of state; and Sudhi on elaboration on the Finance Ministers meeting particularly on debt.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: If I could start with the question that our friend from Bloomberg asked on what would be the focus priority areas of discussions under the Finance Ministers’ track? You know it’s a very common understanding that in terms of the kind of challenges that the developing world today faces, a very large segment of it, obviously, has a finance dimension to it. So, whether it is the very fundamental question of how do you finance your development itself? - One. Two, in doing so, how do you actually avoid falling in debt trap? Three, again, as part of your financing of development, how do you structure your development aid and development partnerships, with your different partners across the world? For any developing society, one of the key parameters is always how do you ensure financial inclusion, which is again a part of putting financing structures of your development space and of course, increasingly, in recent years, and of course, going forward in the future also, what is the interface of technology with finance, in which it impacts the development obviously, in a positive way.
So, when you talk of technological digital public goods that interface with the world of finance in a manner that actually propels the development of a country, so, I would say these would broadly speaking, as I said, this is still in planning phase as being developed. So I'm sure as we go forward, this would assume a much sharper shape in terms of specifics of the topic, but if you were to look at the broad general scope of discussions, we would assume that the Finance Ministers’ track would focus among other things on these elements of the discussions which are so very relevant and pertinent for the countries of the Global South.
In terms of the question from Sidhant and Kavita Joshi ji yadi ek prakar se aapke prashn ka bhi bhag dekha jaye to shayad (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Kavita Joshi ji, if in a way, if you look at the part of your question, then perhaps both of them are together and in some ways and as I've mentioned, very early on in my remarks that invitations are going across to more than 120 countries of the Global South. As we go along towards the date of the Summit, we would of course, be very happy to share with you the list of confirmed participants across various sessions and that would include sessions relating to the Head of the State and Head of the Government. As I mentioned to you that each session would have participating countries either as HoS/HoG level or at the ministerial level that would range between 10 and 20.
Joint Declaration part I already mentioned to you in my remarks that what we propose to release as a summarized synthesis of the perspectives, the ideas, the inputs, the priorities, that the participating countries would share during the Summit, and put it out for the benefit of, of course, all the participating countries, but also for the world outside to know what the thinking during the Summit has been of the participating leaders and the Ministers. Thank you.
Madhurendra: Foreign Secretary Sir, main Madhurendra News Nation se. Abhi aapne ek word use kiya ki jo developing countries hai woh debt trap mein na phanse, ye ek mahatvapoorn vishay hai jisapar batchit hogi developing countries partner ke saath jinko invite kiya gaya hai, main janana chahta hoon ki kya hamara sidha ishara cheen ki taraf hai jiske debt trap mein phans kar Sri Lanka jaisa desh jo hai woh arthik roop se badhal ho gaya aur tamam kai aise developing desh jo hai wo bhi cheen k debt trap mein phanse hue hai? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Foreign Secretary Sir, I am Madhurendra from News Nation, you have just used a word that the developing countries should not get caught in the debt trap, this is an important topic on which the discussions will happen with the partner developing countries, I want to know whether we are directly referring to China, in whose debt trap, countries like Sri Lanka have come under. And many such developing countries are also trapped in the debt trap of China?
Manish Chand: Foreign Secretary Manish Chand, India Writes Network. When we talk about Global South, obviously Africa is a large part of Global South. My question to you is that we are holding the digital Summit a very laudable initiative. But we haven't done a Summit in Africa, African countries since 2015. Can we expect a similar digital Summit or something like that in this year?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Virtual Summit is what you mean.
Manish Chand: Yeah, virtual or physical, ideally physical, but we haven't had time to do that with Africa for many, many years now.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I will happily say that this is beyond the scope of this. I will pass that question. Nayanima go ahead.
Nayanima: Nayanima from ABP Live. Sir, I would like to know why suddenly this decision to hold the Global South, will the input go into the final G20 decision. And also, is it because we are the G20 President, will you continue this once the G20 Presidency will be over? Thank you.
Tripti Nath: Tripti Nath. I’m an independent journalist. Foreign Secretary I would like to know this initiative that you've embarked on inviting non G20 countries seems to be very meaningful. But would this also pave the way somehow, in the course of the year for these non G20 countries to get a chance to participate, because they're giving in their inputs and suggestions.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: As you know our invitation for the G20 Summit if you're talking about we have already announced who we are inviting for that Summit. So unless we have something more to share, I'm not sure if that question’s worth but I will ask. So just a quick question, and then I'll come back.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Let me just start from the last question that Tripti asked and as Arindam replied, we have already announced some time ago, the countries that are going to be invited to participate in the G20 besides the membership of the G20, which includes of course, the member countries and the international organizations both which have traditionally participated and which are being specifically invited for this. So, that list is already available in public, for us to see. But I think, as I mentioned in my remarks, this Voice of Global South Summit is a great opportunity for us, and for the countries of the Global South to make their voice heard through this Summit, and try and factor that in into various deliberations of the G20 Summit itself. So, in that sense, what they share during the Voice of Global South Summit, both in terms of their interests, their concerns, their priorities, I think would provide a very relevant input and important feed into the discussions of various working groups, ministerial sessions, and eventually of course, the Summit of the G20. As I mentioned, in the G20, we already cooperate and coordinate very closely with the existing members of the G20. So, this Summit would be among other things, an opportunity for the non-G20 membership to share their as I said, perspectives and priorities, which we could try and put forward through the deliberations in the G20.
Madhurendra ji jo aapka prashn rin ke bhar leke, debt trap ko leke tha, jo hamare bloomberg ke mitr ne prashn poochha tha usaka mukhya sar ye tha ki vitt mantri ke track mein, arth mantriyon ke track mein jo discussion hoga uska kya mool svarup hoga? kya usaka ek prakar se prakar hoga? To, maine kaha tha ki vikas ki yatra mein jo ek sabase mukhya prabhavshali jo ek bindu hai woh hai ki vikas ki financing kiss prakar se ki jaye. Aur ye swabhavik hai koi bhi desh nahi chahega ki vikas ki jab vittiy jarurato ki poorti ho to usase ek rin ke bhar mein wo dabe, kisi bhi desh ki ye abhilasha nahi hoti hai. To ye swabhavik hai ki jab nimantrit desh jab apne vikas ki yatra, vikas ke anubhavon, unake vikas ki kshamataaen, unake vikas ka kya paripeksh hai, kya bhavishya hai dekhte hai, kya unke anubhav rahe hain, jab woh inn baato ko Voice of global summit mein ujagar karenge to ye swabhavik hai ki woh usmen vikas ki yatra mein kya samasyaen ati hai, rin bhi ek prakar se samasya hai uska jikra bhi karenge, ye keval usi tak simit hai isko kisi desh vishesh ke paripeksh se dekhna mere hisab se uchit nahi hoga. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Madhurendraji, the main gist of the question that our friend from Bloomberg asked was, what will be the basic nature of the discussion that will take place in the Finance Ministers’ track? So, I had said that one of the main points that is most important in the developmental journey is how to finance development. And it is natural that no country would want that when the financial needs of its development are met, it comes with a burden of debt. So, when the invited countries will highlight their developmental journey, developmental experiences, their development related capabilities, the perspective of their development, what future they see, their experiences, in the Voice of Global South Summit, it is natural that they will also mention what problems they encounter in the developmental journey in which debt is also a problem which will also be discussed. It is limited to that, it will not be appropriate to look at it from the perspective of a particular country, in my view.
Manish, your question with regard to the Global South Summit and how we have been engaging with Africa. I think, if you look at the evidence, in terms of how India and the continent of Africa and the countries of Africa have been cooperating both individually, and also collectively, that it is a cooperation which is marked with a very robust and development centric partnership of a kind, which is very sustainable, and as remarked earlier on, leads to the debt trap of those countries. And naturally, India-Africa Forum Summit to which you alluded to of 2015 was a significant milestone in the progress of that relationship. And we are confident that that journey that we have historically, very strong journey that we have maintained with the countries of Africa, would continue this year also. And naturally, the established mechanism of that partnership with the African countries and with continent as a whole and that includes in the Africa Forum Summit, would also obviously find a suitable landing as we shape this cooperation through these mechanisms. So Nayanima to your question on why this Global Summit and I tried to capture it in Prime Minister's quote which captures one element of it, it doesn't capture the entirety but it captures that key element that India's presidency of the G20 and I may be missing a word or two here in terms of what Prime Minister mentioned that our Presidency of G20 will be shaped not just in cooperation, consultation with the G20 partners, but also with those countries, which are not members of the G20, but have an ecosystem of concerns and priorities and interest, which are extremely crucial for the very success of the G20 in that sense, if it has to really become global in nature, that is the one key element of it, which is one of the pillar thinkings of the Summit. But the other element of the Voice of Global South Summit is that if you look at the concerns, interests and priorities of the large, overwhelming developing world that is outside the G20 often, the evidence would show that the relevant mechanisms that are supposed to factor them in, take them on board, address them, mitigate those challenges, amplify the opportunities, whether these are both in the multilateral institutional framework or in other select plurilateral mechanisms those often are found wanting in terms of their abilities, their capacities or finally, in terms of their outcome to be able to meet many of these challenges, concerns and priorities of this large number of developing countries, which are equally important for the growth of the world. So that was the second pillar thinking. It was very clear that based on evidence that, that voice needs to be heard, that voice needs to be factored in, included in the global discourse across not just G20 but in other intergovernmental international fora also, so the Voice of Global Summit that this initiative is titled as, would provide that space and opportunity to bring this voice perspective. And as I said, try and channelize into the larger international discussions where this could find meaningful reception and a purposeful action on them could be taken.
Our perspective, as I said in my remarks, also that we have always been in the forefront and very consistent in championing the cause of the developing countries. But this initiative, the voice of Global South is a new and unique initiative in that respect we will have to, of course, see how this initiative evolves in future going forward. But that is something that we would evaluate, analyse and respond to after the Summit is over. But as I said, India would never be found wanting and lacking in terms of coming forward and shaping in response and responding to the needs of the developing countries.
Sridhar: Sir, Sridhar here from Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle. Sir, India has always maintained that terrorism is an issue that impedes the economic development of any country. So will that be an issue that will be discussed? And will there be any security component during the deliberations during the two-day Summit? And just a small clarification, I just wanted to know whether China, Pakistan and Ukraine invitations have been extended to these three countries.
Brahm Prakash: Sir mein Brahm Prakash hoon Zee News se, mera sawal yeh hai ki jab ye global ayojan ho raha hai to kya isamen bharat jo baat karta raha hai ki sanyukt rashtron men sudharo ki, ki bharat ko bhi permanent membership milni chahiye, toh un sudharo par bhi baat hogi kya is global manch par aur ismen kya sirf developing countries ko bhi invite kiya ja raha hai ya P5 ke nation bhi honge, Thank you. (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sir, I am Brahm Prakash from Zee News, my question is that when this global event is happening, India has been talking about the reforms in the United Nations, that India should also get permanent membership, will those reforms also be discussed on this global platform and whether only developing countries are being invited or there will also be P5 countries? Thank you.
Kallol: This is Kallol from the Hindu. If I heard it correctly, then the spokesperson said at least I think 120 invites have been sent out. And I think more than 120 invites.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: More than 120 countries are being invited.
Kallol: So that's exactly, I think, is the number of countries in the Non-Aligned Movement. So therefore, the question is, if you are really holding a Summit about the Global South, then why haven't really shown similar enthusiasm for the Non-Aligned Movement. In fact, the Prime Minister hasn't really attended one Summit, I think, the last as long as I can remember.
Akhilesh Suman: Sir, I’m Akhilesh Suman from Sansad TV. Actually, I wanted to know that whether this will be part of 200 meetings during in the framework of G20.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: This is not a G20. Let me answer it for you.
Akhilesh Suman: There are some suggestions that voice of African countries are not there in G20. So, will you consider that African Union should be involved in G20 like a European Union is there?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I will not allow that question. We will take that on our weekly presser. This is not a G20 briefing. And I'm happy to answer them next Thursday ask me. Please go ahead.
Umashankar: Umashankar NDTV India se. Ek sovereign country ke taur pe India kisi bhi tarah ke summit ka ayojan kar sakta hai lekin mera sawal yeh hai kya kyonki ye G20 se link kiya jaa raha hai isko, to kya G20 ke jo member countries hai unse kisi tarah ka prior consultation kiya gaya hai, aur agar kiya gaya hai to isake prati rukh kya hai? (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Umashankar from NDTV India. As sovereign country, India can organize any kind of summit, but my question is, because it is being linked to the G20, has there been any prior consultation with the G20 member countries and if done, then what is the attitude towards it?
Sachin: Mera naam Sachin Badholiya hai main univarta se hoon, global south ke jyadatar desh jo hai woh samudra tat par hai vishesh roop se Indo-Pacific kshetra mein rehte hai, to kya koi development ko lekar ke koi naya economy jaise blue economy hai iske upar koi baat hone wali hai, doosra samudra ke niche jo resources hai. (Questioned in Hindi; Approximate Translation) My name is Sachin Badholia, I am from Univarta. Most of the countries in the Global South are coastal, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, so is there any discussion going to happen on Blue economy, on resources under the sea?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Dekhiye, Sachin ji main aapke prashn se prarambh karata hoon, samudri tatiy pradesh ke baare mein aapne kaha na kafi jo desh hai samudr tatiy ke hai to kya blue economy ke prashn mein koi batchit hogi. Dekhiye maine aapse apne praarambhik tippani main kah chuka hoon ki jo mantriya star ke jo sessions hai aur jo adhyaksh jo rashtriy adhyaksh star ke jo sessions hai unke kya, kya unke jo shirshak honge, kya unke jo main theme topics honge, main aapko already usmen define kar chuka hoon. Naturally ye swabhavik hai ki jin-jin deshon ki arthik vyavasthaon men jo tatiy desh hai, to jo bhi blue economy ke elements unke liye important hai toh woh desh ye swabhavik hai ki varta ke dauran apni baat ka jo hai unke jo arthik vikas mein blue economy ka jo role hai, jo usaka prabhav hai uska woh bayaan svabhavik hai ki woh usmen karenge. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Sachin ji I will start with your question. You mentioned that many countries are coastal countries, so will there be any discussion on the question of blue economy? Look, in my opening remarks, I have already defined the themes and topics of the Ministerial level sessions and the Leaders’ sessions. Naturally, the coastal countries, in whose economy, elements of the blue economy are important, it is natural that they will convey the role of blue economy and its impact in their economic development during the talks.
Umashankar ji jo aapka ye prashn tha ki G20 se link kiya jaa raha hai, maine isko ye nahi kaha ki isko G20 se link kiya jaa raha hai, maine aapko spasht roop se kaha ki ye ek naya initiative hai Voice of Global South ka, ab kyonki is varsh bharat ki adhyakshata hai G20 ki, toh woh ek madhyam hai hamare pass aur global south ke deshon ke paas jiske antargat hum unki vichardhara ko, unake paripeksh ko, unake mat ko, unaki ichchhaon ko, unaki chintaon ko ek prakar se G20 samooh ke samaksh prastut kar sakte hain. Jahan tak aapko yaad ho maine apni tippani mein ye bhi kaha tha ek prashn ke uttar mein bhi pehle kaha tha ki hamara G20 deshon ke saath bahut hee sameep aur ek bahut hi sakaratmak sahyog aur sahakarya abhi se already chalta hai, woh vyavastha swatah apni jagah pe kayam hai, ye Voice of global summit ek bhinn initiative hai usaka G20 ka link jis prakar se aapke prashn ke dwara usmen jodne ka jo prayas hai mere khyal se usmen shayad uchit nahi hoga. (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) Umashankar ji, I did not say that it is being linked to G20, I clearly told you that this is a new initiative, Voice of Global South. Now because this year India is chairing the G20, so that is a platform for us and for the countries of the Global South, under which we can present their ideology, their perspective, their opinions, their wishes, their concerns in a way to the G20 group. If you recall, I had also said in my comment, in response to a question that we have very close and positive cooperation with the G20 countries. This Voice of Global Summit is a different initiative, so to try to link it to the G20, as you have done through your question, in my view is not appropriate.
Sridhar, your question was on terrorism and in development, and whether invites have been issued to specific countries? This question’s I think response, invites to the specific countries as I mentioned earlier, more than 120 invites are being issued. And as the days progress ahead of the Summit, we will be sharing with you the list of confirmed participants as we go along. Terrorism and development, when we invite countries to speak of their interest, their concerns and their priorities, especially as they pertain to their economic growth, development and prosperity, it is for each country to decide as to what for them is a priority, what for them is a concern. Now, depending upon the specific agenda items that would evolve for each of the sessions, each of the ministerial sessions and for the Heads of the State and the Heads of the Government session, many elements, many challenges to development will feature. At this stage I would not like to confirm inclusion or exclusion for that matter of a particular agenda item that needs to be there.
To the question from our colleague from the Hindu with regard to the invites, as I said, more than 120 invites are being issued, we will share with you whichever is the final confirmed list of participants but what we are doing under voice of Global South Summit has for you to insinuate that, that in any way means a reduced significance of India's role active involvement, proactive participation in NAM or even G77 for that matter, I don't think would be correct.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Woh G20 question tha, Brahm Prakash ji UN Security Council Reform or developing country ko bula rahe hai ya P5 ko bula rahe hai. (Answered in hindi; Approximate Translation) The G20 question by Brahm Prakash ji - calling for UN Security Council Reform and inviting only developing countries or also the P5?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Dekhiye, ye Voice of Global South summit hai jisamen vikassheel deshon pay kendra kiya ja raha hai or 120 se ooper se jyada nimantran diye ja rahe hai is samay, ant mein kaun-kaun se confirmed participants honge woh hum aapse baad mein share karenge. Magar jo ki aapne global sudharo ki baat ki, vashwick sansthaon ki, vashwick vyavasthaon ki sudhar kee baat kee, vikasashil desh jab apne vikas ki muddon ko leke chunautiyon ko jab paribhashit karte hai to usmein antarrashtriy vyasthaon key aur antarrashtriy sansthaon ki bhoomika, us bhoomika ka prabhutva, usaka prabhav, khastor pe uski safalta ya asafalta svabhavik hai ki desh agar uchit samjhenge, nimantrit desh agar uchit samjhenge to usape bhi agar tippani karna chahenge toh unke upar hoga. Magar jo ki different sessions ka jo agenda hai woh abhi puri tarah se finalise ya viksit nahi hai, jaise hi hoga woh hum aapke sath bhi jo hai usko share karege, dhanyavaad (Answered in Hindi; Approximate Translation) See, this is the Voice of Global South Summit which is centred around developing countries, and in which more than 120 invitations have been extended. We will share with you later the final confirmed participants. You talked about global reforms, global institutions, reforming global systems. When the developing countries deliberate on challenges being faced with regard to development, in that the role of international systems and international institutions, the dominance of that role, its impact, especially its success or failure - if invited countries think is appropriate, they will comment on it, it’s upto them. The agenda of different sessions hasn’t been finalised yet, once it’s done we will share with you.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you sir. Clearly, there's a lot of interest in this topic and I'm sure we'll be able to share more in details as we go ahead for the moment. Thank you very much sir, for the clarification, the details that you shared. Also thanks to Shri Prabhat Kumar, as well, as Dr. Sumit Seth for joining us here. Thank you to all of you. As we mentioned, this is a Virtual Summit and we will try to see how we can share the details with you. It is not open to the media, but some elements we will try to share with you to the extent possible of some of these interventions. We'll share with you more details. For the moment thank you very much. Good evening.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much.