In his opening remarks at the Voice of Global South summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday the “world is in a state of crisis” and told the leaders of developing countries “your voice is India’s voice” and “your priorities are India’s priorities”.
PM Modi also shared his strategy for overcoming the problems facing the developing world. We should jointly call for a global agenda of Respond, Recognize, Respect, and Reform, he said, in order to re-energize the world.
PM Modi stated, “We, the Global South, have the greatest stakes in the future,” during the first session of the two-day special virtual summit, the Voice of Global South summit, which began on Thursday.
“India has always shared its developmental experience with our brothers of the Global South. As India begins its G20 Presidency this year, it is natural that our aim is to amplify the Voice of the Global South,” he added.
PM Modi stated that countries must respond to the Global South’s priorities, recognise the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities, respect international law and territorial sovereignty, and reform international institutions such as the United Nations.
This “Voice of Global South Summit” under the theme “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose” envisages bringing together countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. More than 120 countries have been invited to participate in this Summit.
Global South refers to the developing and the less-developed countries of the world.
Officials said 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. They added India’s ongoing Presidency of the G20 provides a special and strong opportunity for those countries that are not part of the G20 process to share their ideas and expectations from the G20.
The Summit envisages 10 sessions—four would be held on January 12, and six sessions on January 13. Each session is expected to witness the participation of leaders and ministers from 10-20 countries.
The inaugural and concluding sessions are at the Head of State/Government level, and are being hosted by PM Modi. The theme of the Inaugural Leaders’ session is “Voice of Global South – for Human-Centric Development” and that of the Concluding Leaders’ session is “Unity of Voice-Unity of Purpose”.
In addition, there would be eight ministerial sessions, with the following themes:
- Finance Ministers’ Session on “Financing People-Centric Development”
- Environment Ministers’ Session on “Balancing Growth with Environment-Friendly Lifestyles (LiFE)”
- Foreign Ministers’ Session on “Priorities of the Global South – Ensuring a Conducive Environment”
- Energy Ministers’ Session on “Energy Security and Development- Roadmap to Prosperity”
- Health Ministers’ Session on “Cooperation to Build Resilient Healthcare Systems”
- Education Ministers’ Session on “Human Resource Development and Capacity Building”
- Commerce and Trade Ministers’ Session on “Developing Synergies in the Global South – Trade, Technology, Tourism and Resources”
- Foreign Ministers’ Session on “G-20: Suggestions for India’s Presidency”
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