Motto of hosting G20 is getting world ready for India and India ready for the world, says EAM Jaishankar

BENGALURU: Speaking about the significance of India hosting the G20 this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that the motto of India hosting G20 is getting the world ready for India and India ready for the world.

"The motto of us hosting the G20 is about getting the world ready for India and India ready for the world," the EAM said while interacting with the public in Bengaluru. The minister said: "We have taken up the G20 at an important time in the world. We consulted 125 countries who are not part of the G20 and came up with the issues being faced by them."

"Moreover, countries generally do this (G20 meetings) in their capital cities and 2-3 other cities. Our way of doing this - and it is democratisation of foreign policy - is to do it across 60 cities, across states and union territories," Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar said that India wants every city and every state to be more aware of the world because, in a globalized world, that is where our opportunities are. "While a city like Bengaluru is used to foreigners coming and visiting, for other cities, it is a big deal and they are quite excited," he said.

"If you look at these 200 meetings and the number of people who will come, they are the most powerful influencers of global opinion. We want them to see all of India, see the diversity, see the pluralism, multiple cultures, cuisines and art and get back to their country with a more informed sense of India," Jaishankar added.

India's G20 Presidency reached a milestone on Tuesday as it marked a half-century of G20 meets. Three meets commenced on Tuesday in Mumbai, Vizag and Ramnagar, taking the total to 50. India assumed the G20 Presidency from Indonesia on December 1 last year and will convene the G20 Leaders' Summit for the first time later this year. India's Presidency will continue till November 30, 2023. India's G20 Presidency is in the true spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or the 'World is One Family'.

The Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and the US and the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. (ANI)