Leaders of the world’s richest and most powerful countries will attend a two-day conference G20 summit in New Delhi, the Indian capital – the first time the South Asian country has hosted such a powerful group of world leaders.
The capital was adorned with ornamental flowers and fountains at roundabouts while public buildings and sidewalks received a fresh coat of paint.
Here’s what you need to know about the bloc, the countries participating in this week’s summit and the issues likely to dominate it:
What is the G20 and how was it created?
The world’s 20 largest countries formed an economic group in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis, with the understanding that such crises could no longer be contained within national borders and required better international economic cooperation.
The bloc currently accounts for 80 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), 75 percent of international trade and around two-thirds of the world’s population.
Although only Treasury chiefs met in the early years, leaders from all member countries decided to meet once a year for a leaders’ summit after the 2008 global financial crisis.
There is no G20 seat and the presidency rotates among its members. The 2022 summit was held in Indonesia and India will hand over the presidency to Brazil on December 1.
Who forms the G20?
The G20 includes the world’s 19 richest countries plus the European Union as a bloc.
These countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Was another country invited this year?
According to the official websiteother countries invited to the summit this year are Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
Organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) were also invited.
India has also invited the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the two-day summit.
When and where will the G20 summit take place this year?
This year’s G20 summit will be held in New Delhi on September 9-10 at the new Bharat Mandapam, a sprawling exhibition center located in the heart of the city, near the historic India Gate monument.
What is this year’s theme?
The Indian theme of the G20 is derived from the Sanskrit expression “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (or the world is one family). According to the organizers, the theme is taken from an ancient Sanskrit text.
The phrase highlights “the value of all human, animal, plant and micro-organism life – and their interconnectedness on planet Earth and in the wider universe”.
The theme in English says: “One Earth, one family, one future”. The event will also focus on LiFE (Mission Lifestyle for Environment), “with its associated, ecologically sustainable and responsible choices”, specify the organizers.
Who participates – and who doesn’t?
World leaders who have confirmed their participation include US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart and ally Xi Jinping have decided not to attend.
It will be the first time that a Chinese president will miss the G20 summit since the first edition in 2008. In 2020 and 2021, during the COVID pandemic, Xi attended virtually.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also expected to attend the New Delhi summit in what will be his first official trip to India as prime minister.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to criticize Russia for the war in Ukraine since the former country currently leads the G7.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to India will be part of his three-country tour which also includes Indonesia and the Philippines.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to attend and also hold bilateral talks with Modi, according to Indian media reports.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are also expected to attend.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol told The Associated Press he would urge the international community to respond firmly to North Korea’s “ever-increasing missile provocations and nuclear threats and to work closely for its denuclearization” during the summit.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the G20 summit was important despite the absence of Russia and China. Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to visit India and focus his discussions on climate change.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez and Nigerian leader Bola Tinubu are also expected, while Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador may not attend, according to Indian media.
What are the key issues this year?
Under India’s year-long presidency, the bloc focused its discussions on increasing lending by multilateral institutions to developing countries, reforming the international debt architecture, regulating cryptocurrencies and effects of geopolitical uncertainties on food and energy security.
So far this year, the bloc has failed to issue a joint statement because it is deeply divided over language referring to the war in Ukraine.
While Russia and China oppose blaming Moscow for the war, Western countries including the United States, France and Canada have called for strong condemnation as a necessary condition for a joint declaration.
How is India preparing for the summit?
The crowded streets of New Delhi have been resurfaced. Streetlights illuminate the once-dark sidewalks. The buildings and walls of the city are painted with bright murals. Planted flowers are everywhere.
According to to reports, hundreds of houses and roadside stalls have been demolished since January, displacing thousands of people. Dozens of slums were razed and many residents received eviction notices shortly before demolitions began.
Authorities say the demolitions were carried out against “illegal invaders”, but right-wing activists and those evicted question the policy and say it has pushed thousands more into homelessness.
According to local reports, Indian Railways has decided to cancel and temporarily divert at least 200 passenger train services from September 8 to 11. New Delhi airport received requests to cancel 80 departing and as many arriving domestic flights during the summit, Indian media report. said.
