Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good evening to all of you. Thank you for joining us this late on a Friday evening. It shows the importance that you've attached to this topic that we're discussing. As you all know, we have just concluded this unique initiative called the Voice of Global South Summit. To give us a perspective on what were the discussions in the last couple of days, we have the privilege of having with us Foreign Secretary Sir, Shri Vinay Kwatra. Also joining us, Shri Prabhat Kumar, OSD (Economic Relations and DPA), as well as Dr. Sumit Seth, Joint Secretary (PP&R) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Sir, it's quite late. I'll hand over the floor to you quickly.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much Arindam, Special Secretary Prabhat, Sumit, friends from the media. Very good evening and thank you so much for coming in at this later hour on a Lohri evening. So first of all, wish you a very Happy Makar Sankranti, Lohri and sorry to have pulled you away from your families on this evening when you want to spend the time together. But as Arindam said, we undertook a unique initiative and the 2-day special virtual "Voice of Global South Summit” has just ended with the concluding session that was hosted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The overall theme of the Summit, and of the Concluding Leaders’ session also, was "Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose”. Prime Minister, as I have mentioned in my presser before the Summit began, also hosted the inaugural session yesterday, under the theme "Voice of Global South - for Human-Centric Development”. In addition to the two sessions at the level of the Heads of State and Heads of the Government, there were eight Ministerial sessions held across various issues which are of relevance, importance and significance to the developing countries across the world.
A sum total of 125 countries participated in this new and unique initiative. These included 29 countries from Latin America & Caribbean, 47 countries from Africa, 7 countries from Europe, 31 countries from Asia and 11 countries from Oceania. Clearly a strong and positive response across the whole world through the Voice of Global South Summit. The infographics of the global participation is on the screen, on my left, on your right, for you to clearly see the geographic spread of participants from across the developing world. Arindam commits to sharing this with you for your reference and for your benefit. As you can see, this was truly a Voice of the Global South Summit. In addition, as I mentioned last time also, we have also been in close contact with the developing countries that are G20 members also.
One thing which came across clearly during the Summit was the need for articulating the voice of the Global South in international institutions and for reforming them for a balanced representation of the developing world. This came out very strongly through the Summit. In this context, I must mention that India’s role and in particular the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was deeply appreciated across by all the speakers. It would not be incorrect to say that India’s presidency would be the first ever G20 presidency perhaps that can claim to have captured the sentiment and views of the entire developing world - not just limit itself to the large economies’ perspective.
The Summit, as you can see in numerical evidence, received a strong, positive response across the world. The final number of participations would also tell you that almost all the countries accepted the invitation and participated in the Summit. Participants during their interventions, during the course of summit and across various sessions thanked the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his personal leadership which was instrumental in conceptualizing and crystallizing the Voice of Global South at a time which is particularly difficult for the developing world facing as it is numerous challenges across economic and political domains. There was also uniform acknowledgement that the agenda of the Summit echoed very much the priorities, the perspectives and concerns of the developing world. In particular, Prime Minister’s offer to share India’s experiences and successful solution templates in various sectors, be it health sector, be it the sector of finance, in particular, financing of development, financial inclusion, how to successfully deploy technology to overcome the developmental challenges and meet the developmental priorities and prerogatives in the developing world. Digital public goods, financial inclusion, our experiences in leveraging technology for development in the health sector etc. was deeply appreciated by the fellow developing countries’ leaders during the Summit. There was also of course appreciation for India’s willingness to assist the world in the past through the Vaccine Maitri.
During the sessions, participants from across the developing world also shared their own experiences, their own concerns, their own aspirations, their own best practices which they offered and they put on the table. Many of the participating leaders and Ministers asked India to carry their voices into the G20 and other international groupings. There was a clear sentiment that the Global South is being adversely impacted by developments that they did not have a role in creating, and do not have a voice also in how these should be addressed. We will shortly be putting out a document that will capture the key elements of the deliberations of the Summit.
As you would have followed up closely that in his remarks yesterday, Prime Minister gave a call for 4Rs - ‘Respond, Recognize, Respect and Reform’ in context of various priorities of the developing world. He also clearly told the participants and I quote that "Your voice is India’s voice; your priorities are India’s priorities”. And I think, nothing captures the Summit’s objective better than those words mentioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister yesterday. Today, as you would have again followed, Prime Minister also announced a number of new initiatives by India in connection with the Global South Summit and these include – AarogyaMaitri, the Global South. He fleshed it out in some details in his closing remarks; Global South Centre of Excellence; Global South Science and Technology Initiative; Global South Young Diplomats Forum; Global South Scholarships.
We deeply value the ideas and suggestions which have been put forward by the participating leaders and the Ministers during the Global South Summit. We would make strongest of endeavours to channelize these ideas, these priorities, their concerns of the Global South countries through the international platforms and of course, including during the G20 presidency of India. The Summit of Voice of Global South is a unique beginning – a start which under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi allows India to chart a new path of greater collaboration towards realization of the priorities of the Global South. Thank you. I think, I would end here and if there are questions, I would try to answer them.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I see lots of hands. Hold on. Let me start with Sudhi today. I saw him first, and then I'll come back to you.
Sudhi Ranjan: Sir Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. Sir, on the finance issues, and specifically on debt, what is the kind of responses, you know, feedback that India has got, and anything in particular that India would want to take up to the G20 in this, if you could explain and give us an understanding of that.
Rishikesh: Hello sir, Rishikesh from PTI. So, my first question is what was the reason behind informing China about this Summit? And so second question sir, so had India requested participant countries to provide any concrete agenda in near future that it can bring up at the G20.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: That we can take to the G20.
Rishikesh: Yes.
Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION. The Prime Minister announced number of initiatives including establishment of the center and scholarship, if any details can be provided, where this centre will be established, the number of scholarships that will be given.
Vineet Dixit: Vineet Dixit from NewsGate. Sir, correct me if I'm wrong, is it going to be a bigger movement than the Non-Aligned Movement because 125 countries is a big success. And secondly, it's virtual Summit. When are we going to have a physical Summit in future?
Shashank Mattoo: I’m Shashank Mattoo from the Mint. Thank you for your time Foreign Secretary. Sir, in Non-Aligned Movement also has a scholarship program. It also has a Centre for Science and Technology and so on and so forth. Is there a worry that there will be some duplication of effort between the Voices of the Global South and the Non-Aligned Movement?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you. I think let me capture a sense of the room in terms of the queries that the room might have in their own minds with regard to the specific Summit outcomes and decisions that the Honourable Prime Minister announced, whether they, in any way, overlap, intersect, dilute, interfere with what you mentioned or was going on in other fora, in terms of Non-Aligned Movement. It would also in some ways capture, Manish, your question. I think each platform, you would agree, have its own objectives, practices, history, membership, activities, processes in which they do that. We feel and we firmly believe that, we felt that this initiative which has been anchored by India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi would be the most appropriate forum, platform for our objectives, which is of a common platform for the developing world. Let me emphasize that this Summit does not, in any way, dilute how India, as I mentioned last time to you also, engages proactively and robustly with other fora, whether it's the Non-Aligned Movement, or it is the G77. But given the current global context, we felt that it was important for us to shape a platform that captures this voice of Global South in a purposeful and meaningful way and carry it forward, as I said, to the other international institutions, including to the G20.
With regard to the first question from Bloomberg, whether there was on the topics, which were discussed in the Finance Ministers’ session, whether there was anything specific, particular, with regard to the debt. Well, as you would recall our opening presser on this subject, wherein I had clearly outlined that the financing of the development is one of the central and core priorities for all the developing countries of the world. When the Finance Ministers’ session took place, there were two, three salient elements of it, which you would have noticed, at least if you heard our Finance Minister speaking in that session in her opening remarks. One, each of the countries did put forward the challenges that they are facing in terms of structural problems, to some of the economies, to the challenges of the financing of the development, to the fact that how some of the international financial institutions need to scale up their game in order to meet those requirements. Naturally, the requirement that the financing of the development should be sustainable, and less of a burden on countries’ economic structures, including, in particular terms, the debt burden, this of course, came out very, very clearly in the Finance Ministers’ session. Naturally, that was also the session which talked about how the countries can cooperate better in terms of financial inclusion, in terms of how to interface and leverage technology better to meet the financing needs, in particular, the Digital Public goods in the financial sector, and how the development partnerships that are structured among the developing countries and with the developing countries, should be more outcome oriented, demand driven and more sustainable. This was what formed the agenda of the Global South Summit, of the Finance Ministers’ session.
On PTI’s question of what was the reason behind informing China; requested concrete agenda etc. Look, I had mentioned in my earlier intervention also when we had unveiled the organization of the Voice of Global South Summit, that India has robust cooperation with the other countries of the G20 across all the agenda items that are focused priorities of the G20. And it is under that rubric that we consulted every G20 developing country with whom we have a strong development partnership. But as I mentioned in my opening presser also, the focus of the Global South Summit was on those countries, who do not have the benefit of availing themselves of their presence in the G20 proceedings, but still of which there is a very critical need to pick up their voices, to channelize those voices into across institutional forum and that includes, of course, the G20. As you would have noticed, each of the Ministerial Sessions had a specific theme. So the broad agenda items of discussion and specific sub agenda items of discussions for each Ministerial Session flowed out of those broad thematic priorities of each of the Ministerial Session.
Now Sidhant, to your question, in terms of the Centre for Excellence for Global South, scholarships, etc. Look, we already do considerable amount of capacity building cooperation. India does it with a whole host of developing countries. This is one of our strong areas. And today's Prime Minister's announcement and decision to enlarge the scope of these schemes and include and encompass the entire Global South into this is just another stronger and much higher level manifestation of those commitments that, as I said, of which we have a very strong experience.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you sir.
Meghna Dey: Sir this is Meghna Dey from DD News. Sir can you elaborate on the kind of discussion that has happened on climate finance? And also, if there has been any push for private capital for climate finance?
Ayushi: Sir, Ayushi from ANI. Sir, were the global issues like terrorism and security challenges discussed too during the Summit as we face certain challenges from our neighbours.
Abhishek: Sir Abhishek from CNN-News 18. My question is regarding this Ukraine conflict that has been going on for almost 11 months now. Was it discussed and also its impact regarding this green crisis all over the world. Was that also discussed with India and what was India's response to that?
Shrinjoy: Can I ask a question on some other issue as opposed to Global South?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Please introduce yourself for the record.
Shrinjoy: This is Shrinjoy from Times Now.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: We would do this briefing largely on the Voice of Global South Summit. If there is something related to that, happy to take the question. But if it is completely different, no.
Kallol: Kallol from the Hindu sir. We saw some strong comments about the United Nations and other international institutions. The External Affairs Minister described the United Nations as frozen in 1945 institution, that is not responding to the challenges of the developing economies, especially after the Ukraine crisis. And before that, we saw our Ambassador to the United Nations also talk about how other organizations like the G20 may actually end up replacing the United Nations, if the United Nations remains in this non-responsive state. And you are organizing this massive get together virtually as of now. So, is India really indicating that it's frustrated with the United Nations structure? And are you indicating that you are exploring other avenues and this Global South Summit is one of the ways of perhaps mapping out your future course of action? Is India looking for an alternative global International institution like the United Nations?
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you. Meghna to your question on the climate finance and whether the private capital for climate financing issues was discussed. The Environment Ministers’ session, which essentially focused on discussions relating to this subject, principally kept its attention on - one, balancing growth with sustainability; two sharing of best practices in ecological conversation; three, the importance of Lifestyle for Environment Initiative, launched by Prime Minister in October 2020, LiFE. The concerns of Small Island Developing States, we heard them very loud, very clear, both during the leader level sessions, and also during environment session, particularly the concerns of the low lying coastal state, ensuring the stable and sustainable climate transition. Some of the existential concerns, which developing countries of the world have because of the climate change, you, yourself heard, Honourable Prime Minister speak today, how the issues relating to climate change, in particular climate financing, and climate technology needs to be very strongly discussed, focused and cooperated among the developing countries, because the established institutions of the world which are supposed to address these requirements of Climate Finance and Climate Technology, have really not fulfilled the task that they were supposed to fulfil. So, this was broadly the broad outline specifics of the discussions during the environmental session.
Ayushi, with regard to the question on terrorism and security challenges. So in the Voice of Global South Summit, both in the opening and in the closing, and in the Foreign Ministers’ Sessions, when the specifics of developmental challenges were contextualized, it was clearly admitted that one of the key context of the developmental challenges that the world faces is the challenge relating to the terrorism and the global political uncertainty, including the derivative impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Which brings me to the next question which you asked Abhishek, with regard to the Ukraine conflict. I think the specific derivative impacts, the challenges of food, fuel, fertilizer insecurities, and other disruptions in the supply chain, in the trade supply chain, in the technology goods supply chain, in the engineering supply chain, that has occurred because of the conflict. This was very much part of the conversation in across various sessions, because this got captured across various sessions.
With regard to what my External Affairs Minister said, which I think our colleague from the Hindu mentioned. I think that statement speaks for itself. I don't think it would be correct for me to second guess my External Affairs Minister. He has spoken very clearly and eloquently on that subject. I will only repeat what I mentioned to you, when we brought the news of this Voice of Global South Summit before you, which is that we often find that the problems of the Global South, their perspectives of their problems, their concerns which they have of the world, their priorities, which they have, of development, often do not get adequately addressed in the established and relevant institutional framework. We found, we felt, that there is a need for that voice to be heard, for those priorities to be understood, for those concerns to be addressed, and for those perspectives to be fully factored in, across a set of all institutional mechanisms, including, in particular, G20. And we felt, and we believe that this Voice of Global South Summit would very much help to serve that objective. Thank you.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you very much, sir. Thank you for the detailed briefing as well as thanks to Shri Prabhat Kumar and Dr. Sumit Seth. Thank you all for joining us today evening. We will share with you as I said, the map of all the countries that have participated and other documents emanating from this Summit. Thank you.
Shri Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary: Thank you very much. Thank you.