By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
India’s capital city New Delhi is all set to host the world’s most influential and powerful leaders at the G20 Summit 2023 this weekend.
The summit is hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with several heads of state to attend.
But it was earlier reported that Chinese president Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will not travel to India. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will instead take part in the meeting.
Putin missed last year’s summit because of the conflict in Ukraine.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to embark on a working visit to India to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
“Ramaphosa will during the summit participate in the G20 Working Sessions themed One Earth, One Family and One Future. The President will also on the margins of the G20 have bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government to strengthen South Africa’s diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.
“South Africa is a member of the G20 and its participation seeks to provide a strategic foresight in establishing an economic and international policy platform that will drive and negotiate the best possible outcomes for the country, Africa and the developing world. South Africa will assume the G20 Presidency in 2025,” the Presidency said in a statement.
The theme for this year’s summit, held under the Presidency of India, is “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.
“The New Delhi Summit will focus on the key pillars of the Indian G20 Presidency, namely; Accelerated, Inclusive Sustainable and Resilient Growth; Accelerating Progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Mainstreaming Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE); Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century; Technological Transformation and Public Infrastructure; Building Digital Public Infrastructure; Safeguarding International Peace and Harmony; Creating a More Inclusive World, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and; Creating a More Inclusive World.
“The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. It plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues.
“The G20 initially focused largely on broad macroeconomic issues, but it has since expanded its agenda to include trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption,” the Presidency said.
In addition to G20 members, India has invited the leaders of Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Egypt, Mauritius, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.