G20 Final Declaration With Modi Imprint Adopted by Consensus

What’s in today’s article:

• G20 Bali Declaration
• Modi’s address at the G-20 Summit in Bali, Session III: Digital Transformation

Why in News:

• The G20 Bali Declaration was finally adopted by consensus even though it failed to gloss over serious differences over Ukraine.

G20 Bali Declaration: Key Highlights

• On the Russia-Ukraine
  • The declaration acknowledged differences among members on the Russia-Ukraine war but stressed that it was essential to adhere to international law, including protection of civilians caught in conflicts.
    • Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine, but the declaration noted that there were other views and assessments of the situation.
  • It also said that the threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.
• Welcomed the Turkey and UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative
  • that secured a Russia Guarantee to allow the export of Ukrainian grain.
• Other issues covered
  • The declaration covered a range of issues, from climate change to corruption, and from Covid vaccination to imparting computer skills to women.
• The declaration recognised that G20 is not the forum to resolve security issues
  • However, it agreed that security issues can have significant consequences for the global economy.

India emerged as leader, consensus builder

• Declaration Strengthened India’s position on the following since the beginning of the war
  • respect for UN charter,
  • advocating diplomacy and dialogue,
  • need for peace and stability,
  • against the use and threat of use of nuclear weapons.
• Declaration echoed PM Modi’s remark
  • The declaration proclaimed “today’s era must not be of war”, echoing PM Modi’s remarks before President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in September.
  • It strongly endorsed PM Modi’s emphasis on three key points: threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible, diplomacy and dialogue and today’s era must not be of war.
• India acted as consensus builder
  • India has emerged as a leader, solution provider and consensus builder through its positive and constructive approach in framing the G20 communique.
    • India played a key and critical role in bringing consensus amongst countries after all meetings round the year failed and there was total deadlock.
    • India worked in partnership with all developing countries and emerging markets to draft the final statement and the preamble to the statement.
  • India made sure that the country’s viewpoints are prominently reflected in the statement.
• India also managed to get important references in the communique on:
  • sustainable development and lifestyles,
  • new quantified goals for climate finance post 2025,
  • additional finance by multilateral development banks for sustainable development goals (SDGs),
  • multilateral reforms aimed at implementing the 2030 agenda,
  • seamless and interoperable international travel.

Modi’s address at the G-20 Summit in Bali, Session III: Digital Transformation

• Addressing a G20 meeting on digital transformation, PM Modi called for digital access that is truly inclusive.
• He said that it is the responsibility of G20 leaders to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are not confined to a small part of the human race.
• He also sought a pledge by G20 leaders to work for bringing digital transformation into the life of every human being in the next 10 years.
• He said that the principle of “data for development” will be an integral part of overall theme of India’s upcoming G20 presidency.
• Highlighted India’s own digital transformation
  • India has developed digital public goods whose basic architecture has in-built democratic principles.
  • Over 40% of the world’s real-time payment transactions took place through UPI last year.
  • India opened 460 million new bank accounts on the basis of digital identity, making India a global leader in financial inclusion today.

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