PM Modi’s G20 agenda: Growth, climate action, AI governance take center stage

This will be PM Modi’s 12th appearance at a G20 Summit since taking office in 2014.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit beginning Saturday in Johannesburg.

The Prime Minister, this year, is slated to outline India’s positions on global economic challenges, climate action and the governance of emerging technologies. The three-day summit, hosted by South Africa, marks the first time the G20 has convened on African soil.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),  on November 19, stated that PM Modi will speak in all three high-level sessions of the summit, which will focus on inclusive economic growth, building climate-resilient systems and shaping a fair future through responsible artificial intelligence.

“Prime Minister will put forth India’s perspectives on the G20 agenda,” stated the Ministry.

The first session, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth – Leaving No One Behind, will deliberate on global economic rebuilding, the role of trade, financing for development and debt vulnerabilities. The second, A Resilient World – The G20’s Contribution, will focus on disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions and food systems. The final session, A Fair and Just Future for All, will cover critical minerals, decent work and artificial intelligence.

PM Modi, in his departure statement, said this year’s gathering is “particularly special,” noting that it is the first G20 Summit hosted in Africa. He recalled that during India’s presidency in 2023, the African Union was inducted as a permanent member of the G20. This move was, remarkably, spearheaded by India and was widely regarded as a landmark in strengthening Global South representation.

PM Modi said the Summit would be an opportunity to discuss key global issues under South Africa’s 2025 theme, “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” which carries forward outcomes from the 2023 New Delhi Summit and the 2024 Rio de Janeiro Summit. “I will present India’s perspective in line with our vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One Future,” he said.

Furthermore, on the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings with leaders attending the event.

Amidst signs of a thaw in India-Canada relations, PM Modi is scheduled to hold his second meeting this year with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday. The meeting was finalised weeks in advance as both sides move to rebuild ties strained after the killing of a Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in 2023, for which Canada had blamed Indian authorities.

Despite domestic pressure to pursue accountability, Carney has sought to stabilise the relationship since June, when he invited PM Modi to the G7 Summit hosted by Canada and held a bilateral with him on the sidelines.

Last month, during her visit to India, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the two countries had “elevated” the relationship with a joint statement outlining steps to normalise ties, including renewed trade discussions.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi will also participate in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting being hosted by South Africa.  This will be PM Modi’s 12th appearance at a G20 Summit since taking office in 2014.

South Africa, under its presidency, has identified strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilising finance for a just energy transition and harnessing critical minerals for sustainable growth as core priorities.

PM Modi arrived in Johannesburg late Friday evening.

India’s G20 presidency from December 2022 to November 2023 was one of the most extensive ever mounted, featuring more than 200 meetings across 60 cities, representing all 28 states and eight Union Territories. Over one lakh participants, including 30,000 foreign delegates from 135 nationalities, attended the meetings. India’s leadership was widely viewed as providing a human-centric roadmap for addressing global challenges.