New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a three-day visit to South Africa on Friday to attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, stating he will present India’s viewpoint at the forum in accordance with its vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’. This marks the inaugural G20 Summit being held on the African continent. “I will be attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a particularly significant Summit as it is taking place in Africa. Various global issues will be discussed there. I will meet numerous world leaders during the Summit,” Modi shared on X.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister is anticipated to engage in bilateral discussions with some leaders present in Johannesburg. He will also participate in the sixth IBSA Summit there. In his departure remarks, the Prime Minister expressed, “I will present India’s perspective at the Summit in line with our vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future'”. Modi is visiting South Africa from November 22-23 at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa for the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit under South Africa’s Presidency. “This will be a particularly notable Summit, especially since it is the first G20 Summit occurring in Africa.
During India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, the African Union became a member of the G20,” Modi stated. The Summit provides a platform to address critical global issues. The theme for this year’s G20 is ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’, which South Africa has advanced from previous Summits held in New Delhi and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he mentioned. “I look forward to my interactions with leaders from partner countries, and participation in the 6th IBSA Summit scheduled alongside the Summit,” Modi added. Prior to South Africa, the G20 presidencies were held by Brazil (2024), India (2023), and Indonesia (2022).
During the G20 Summit in 2023 in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi announced the African Union’s entry as a permanent member of the group of 20 largest economies in the world. The G20 includes major global economies, representing 85 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population, as per the G20 website. Its members comprise Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, the US, and the European Union.
