G20 Declaration: Former Ambassador Vivek Katju while hailing G20 declaration said that it will prove to be beneficial for future diplomacy. He also praised the efforts of India to bring consensus on Ukraine. With the aim to reflect on India’s accomplishment during its G20 Presidency, a successful Joint Declaration and India’s leadership of Global South, a panel discussion on G20 summit was held at Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) in Delhi. The panelists in the discussion were Former Ambassadors Vivek Katju, KC Singh and Rajiv Dogra, who lauded India’s presidency in the G20 summit as a major achievement in global diplomacy.
Inclusion of African Union in G20 a Constructive step
Hailing the summit as a huge success Ambassador Katju said, ‘Given the strong feeling of divide on Ukraine it was not easy to bridge the gap and that the fear that it would be difficult for India to reach a consensus was proved wrong. He said the inclusion of African Union in G20 was a constructive role played by India. ‘The Declaration will be a text book example for future diplomacy, he said. The G20s agenda should now be to focus on how to bring stability in the world. He however emphasized that despite the issues of women participation in decision making and statement on terrorism included in the G20 Declaration, there was a need for international cooperation on elimination of corruption.
Another panelist Ambassador KC Singh spoke about India being a pioneer in DPI or Digital Public Infrastructure. This is what India can give to the world, he said. Talking on the G20
Declaration Singh said, the Americans stepped back in order to get India on board, to ensure India in its corner against the Chinese.
On reforms of multilateral institutions, he pointed out that China was the biggest debtor of 1.5 trillion US dollars and that India Middle East Europe Corridor was to counter China’s ambitious belt and road initiative or BRI. But he was doubtful on the execution part of the corridor. He said now the new battle is for African resources. ‘India’s relations with Africa are very old though but the Chinese too will not be easy to be displaced,’ he said. Singh however emphasized on the issues that were needed to be raised in G20 like the SDG’s and FATF. He said, All G20 can do is tighten screws for financial transaction.
Panelist Ambassador Rajiv Dogra, conceding the G20 success said, ‘it wasn’t the first time we have had a successful event like this. ‘History is repeating itself’, he said, as India hosted the UNCTAD and NAM (1983) with equal success.
‘India’s Diplomacy has had a history of overcoming obstacles.’ On China Dogra said that the absence of China did not at all matter at G20. On a word of caution Dogra said, ‘Don’t expect G20 to change the world.’ Issues regarding India Middle East Europe Corridor, Climate funding, Africa Union, consensus Diplomacy, Advantage India were delved upon.
