G-20 Summit India 2023: Bharat Mandapam

History of G20, what is G20?
✓ Introduction: The G20 group’s 20 members as of 2023 are-

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Brazil
4. Canada
5. China
6. France
7. Germany
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Italy
11. South Korea
12. Japan
13. Mexico
14. Russia
15. Saudi Arabia
16. South Africa
17. Turkey
18. United Kingdom
19. United States
20. The European Union

✓ Formation: The G20 was founded on 26 September 1999, in response to several world economic crises. Since 2008, it has convened at least once a year, with summits involving each member’s heads-of-state/heads-of-government, finance minister, foreign minister, and other high-ranking officials; the EU is represented by the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

✓ Aims: It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development.

G20 Membership/Composition:

✓ From 2023 (After the addition of the African Union as a full member at the 18th summit of the G20) 21 members (19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU)). President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani takes his seat as the Union becomes a permanent member of the G20.

Now G20 Becomes G21
21st Member: – African Union.
About the African Union (AU):

What is the AU?
✓ The AU is an intergovernmental organization of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa.
✓ The grouping is guided by its vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena,” according to its website.

Why was the AU formed?
✓ Although the AU was officially launched on July 9, 2002, its roots go back to the 1960s when the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established.
✓ The OAU was also an intergovernmental organization and it aimed to bring African nations together and resolve common issues through collective action.
✓ African Union HQ: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
✓ Chairperson: Azali Assoumani.
✓ Commission Chairperson: Moussa Faki.
✓ Parliamentary President: Fortune Z. Charumbira.

G20’s Importance:
✓ The G20 is composed of most of the world’s largest economies, including both industrialized and developing nations, and accounts for around 90% of gross world product (GWP), 75–80% of international trade, two-thirds of the global population, and roughly half the world’s land area.
✓ The G20 has no permanent secretariat.
✓ The agenda and work are coordinated by representatives of the G20 countries, known as ‘Sherpas’, who work together with the finance ministers and governors of the central banks.

✓G20 Summit 2023: “India’s Presidentship”
✓ Theme 2023: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
✓ G 20 Summit 2023 Agenda: ‘Voice of the Global South.
✓ G 20 Summit 2023 Venue Name: Bharat Mandapam, International Exhibition Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
✓ G 20 Summit 2023 Outcome: An unprecedented G20 Presidency. With 112 outcomes and presidency documents, it is over 2.5 times the dedication compared to previous presidencies.
✓ President Country: India.
✓ Host Country: India.
✓ Chaired by: PM Narendra Modi.
✓ Participants: G20 Countries + 9 Invited Countries + 14 International Organizations.
✓ G20 Summit 2023 Date: 9 & 10 September 2023.
✓ Agendas of Summit: Green development, climate finance, inclusive growth, digital economy, public infrastructure, technology transformation, and reforms for women empowerment for socio-economic progress.

G20 Logo & Theme:
✓ The G20 Logo draws inspiration from the vibrant colors of India’s national flag – saffron, white, green, and blue.
✓ It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges.
✓ The Earth reflects India’s pro-planet approach to life, one in perfect harmony with nature.
✓ Below the G20 logo is “Bharat”, written in the Devanagari script.
✓ The theme of India’s G20 Presidency – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future” – is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Upanishad.
✓ PM Modi underscored that the 7 petals of the lotus represent seven continents of the globe and seven notes of music, adding that the G20 will bring the world together in harmony.

G20 Summit 2023 Major Discussion points:
1. The African Union admitted, that G20 became G21 and gave them the due honor against China which exploited them for years.
2. Consensus on Ukraine War – Bharat said the right forum for it is the UN not G20
3. Full consensus Delhi Declaration – 100% agreement is rare
4. India-Middle-East-Europe Economic Corridor – China CPEC, BRI, OROB killed in one shot.
5. Global Biofuels Alliance – the next level also handing over the edge to Brazil which is the next President. A great diplomatic move by Bharat.

🔰Let’s discuss one by one:
1. Preamble of G20 Summit 2023:
✓ We are One Earth, One Family, and we share One Future.
✓ We, the Leaders of the G20, met in New Delhi on 9-10 September 2023, under the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
✓ It is with the philosophy of living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem that we commit to concrete actions to address global challenges.

2. New Delhi Declaration:
✓ The G20 adopted the New Delhi Leaders Summit Declaration on Saturday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that consensus had been reached among member states, marking a major breakthrough in the meeting of the most powerful nations in the world.
✓ A major diplomatic win for India that shows our presidency’s capability to Table ideas, shape, global issues, Bridge divides, and force global consensus.
✓ One of the major highlights was “Unwavering focus on Global South”.

Key outcomes:
i. Green Development Pact for a sustainable future.
ii. Accelerating Progress Plan on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
iii. High-Level Principles on Anti-Corruption.
iv. Technological Transformation & Support for Digital Public Infrastructure.
v. Reforms of Multilateral Institution Development for the 21st Century.
vi. Countering Terrorism and Money Laundering.
vii. Gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
viii. International Taxation.
ix. Financial Sector issues.
x. Creating a more inclusive world.

3. Major Consensus over the “Ukraine Issue”.
✓ This was the most contentious issue and it had the ability to decide India’s leadership capabilities.
✓ But at the last moment, India managed to get a joint declaration which will go down as the biggest Takeaway from the summit.

4. African Union Becomes the Member of G20.
✓ The second Regional grouping after the EU, the African Union has become the newest member of G20. It has given India an upper hand in forging its push toward the “Voice of Global South”.

5. “Global Biofuel Alliance”
India led an initiative to take ethanol blending in petrol up to 20% at a global level. India’s push towards cleaner fuel. A historic moment in the Global Energy Sector: Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) was announced at the G20 event. 19 countries and 12 international organizations have already agreed to join.

6. India- Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor.
✓ Now seamless Infra connectivity aims to counter the influence of “China’s Belt and Road Initiative.” PM Narendra Modi and President of USA Joe Biden co-chaired a special event on Partnership for Global Infrastructure & Investment (PGII) and India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), on 9 September 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

7. Visit of leaders to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at RajGhat,New Delhi.

8. Bharat Mandapam
✓ Influenced by Lord Basveshwara’s “Anubhav Mantapa”.

9. World’s Tallest Nataraja Statue
✓ At New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan- to greet G20 leaders crafted by sculptors from Swamimalai, Tamil Nadu.
✓ Inspiration-inspiration from Nataraja idols found in Chidambaram.
✓ Konerirajapuram, and the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, were all originally constructed during the Chola dynasty’s zenith in the 9th-11th centuries AD.
✓ In his Nataraja form, Lord Shiva represents both the creator and the destroyer, dancing within a circle of flames. This depiction showcases him as a force of destruction, representing death and time, while also being a guardian offering protection and removing fear.
✓ The World’s largest Nataraja statue made from ‘Ashtadhatu’ (eight metals) has been installed in front of Bharat Mandapam which is the venue for the G20 summit in the national capital.
✓ The statue is 27 feet tall and weighs around 20 tons.

10. PM Modi welcomed all the guests at the replica of the “Konark Wheel”.
About: “Konark Sun Temple”
✓ The replicas of the wheel and sculptures of dancing women at the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha greeted world leaders and foreign delegates to the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition and Convention Centre in New Delhi.
✓ Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted arriving world leaders for the G20 Summit.
✓ Konark Wheel was built during the 13th century under the reign of King Narasimhadeva-I.

11. PM Modi transferred the G20 baton to Lula da Silva
✓ Next Presidentship of the G20 will be held by “Brazil”.

G20 Members Leader:
1. India (Host) – Narendra Modi (Prime Minister)
2. Argentina – Alberto Fernández (President)
3. Australia – Anthony Albanese (Prime Minister)
4. Brazil – Lula da Silva (President)
5. Canada – Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister)
6. China – Le Qiang (Prime Minister)
7. France – Emmanuel Macron (President)
8. Germany – Olaf Scholz (Chancellor)
9. Indonesia – Joko Widodo (President)
10. Italy – Giorgia Meloni (Prime Minister)
11. Japan – Fumio Kishida (Prime Minister)
12. Mexico – Andrés Manuel López Obrador (President)
13. Russia – Sergei Lavrov (Foreign Minister).
14. Saudi Arabia – Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (King)
15. South Africa – Cyril Ramaphosa (President)
16. South Korea – Yoon Suk-yeol (President)
17. Turkey – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (President)
18. United Kingdom – Rishi Sunak (Prime Minister)
19. United States – Joe Biden (President)
20. European Union – Charles Michel (President of the European Council)
21. European Union – Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission)

Guest Countries Leader:
1. Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina (Prime Minister)
2. Egypt: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (President)
3. Mauritius: Pravind Jugnauth (Prime Minister)
4. Netherlands: Mark Rutte (Prime Minister)
5. Nigeria: Bola Ahmed Tinubu (President)
6. Oman: Haitham bin Tariq (Sultan)
7. Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong (Prime Minister)
8. Spain: Pedro Sánchez (Prime Minister) [ Note: First Vice President Nadia Calvino]
9. UAE: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (President)

G20 Summit Host Countries:-
2008: United States (Washington)
2009: United Kingdom (London)
2009: United States (Pittsburgh)
2010: Canada (Toronto)
2010: South Korea (Seoul)
2011: France (Paris)
2012: Mexico (Los Cabos)
2013: Russia (Moscow)
2014: Australia (Brisbane)
2015: Turkey (Antalya)
2016: China (Beijing)
2017: Germany (Berlin)
2018: Argentina (Mendoza)
2019: Japan (Tokyo)
2020: Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)
2021: Italy (Rome)
2022: Indonesia (Bali)
2023: India (Delhi)
2024: Brazil
2025: South Africa