Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Members of the G20 have reached a consensus on a joint statement, and the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration has been adopted.
"I have received good news. Due to the hard work of our team, consensus has been built on the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration. My proposal is to adopt this leadership declaration. I announce the adoption of this declaration. On this occasion, I congratulate my Sherpa, ministers, who worked hard for it and made it possible," said PM Modi at the G20 Summit today.
A joint declaration or a joint communique issued at the end of a formal summit like the G20 is a standard diplomatic practice. It seeks to show a unified front and some level of agreement on key issues. It also represents the collective views of the member nations and reinstates their commitments to a wide range of global issues. These include economic, financial, developmental, and occasionally geopolitical matters.
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Without a joint communique, the summit's aim is not considered accomplished. This document allows G20 member nations to align their economic policies and strategies. It reinforces the belief in diplomacy and consensus-building on the global stage. The signing of the document ensures the commitment of G20 nations to global development goals. G20 countries collectively represent a substantial portion of the world's economy, making up around 85% of the global economic output.
The adoption of a Leaders' Declaration comes after intense speculation as to whether India would be able to bring together the different factions of the G20 and agree on the language to describe the contentious issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The world's leading countries such as the US have pushed for a deep condemnation of Russia's aggression, while Moscow has refused to back down and said it will oppose any joint statement that does not reflect its views.
"We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability," the G20 New Delhi Leaders' declaration said. "We... welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible," the statement added.
"Historical & Path-breaking G20 Declaration with 100% consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues. The new geopolitical paras are a powerful call for Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity in today's world. Demonstrates PM Narendra Modi’s leadership in today's world," Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa, wrote in a post on X (Twitter).
G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant shared that the New Delhi Leaders Declaration focuses on:-
-Strong, Sustainable, Balanced, and Inclusive Growth
-Accelerating Progress on SDGs
-Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future
-Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century
-Reinvigorating Multilateralism
Finance Minister Nirmama Sitharaman took to X (Twitter), and posted about the joint declaration. The FM wrote, "Today at the #G20 Leaders’ Summit #NewDelhiLeadersDeclaration is officially adopted. @PMOIndia @narendramodi’s emphasis on human-centric globalisation and our concerns of #GlobalSouth have found resonance and recognition. Thanking all G20 members for their cooperation and support.”
According to experts, this joint statement is a big positive for India after its struggles to issue a communique after any of its key ministerial meetings during its G20 Presidency. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal posted on X, "With 112 outcomes, India’s G20 Presidency is the most ambitious ever. India's G20 leadership under PM Modi has further cemented our rising stature in the world."