India’s G20 presidency will work to promote a universal sense of unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as the country assumed the presidency of the intergovernmental forum. Highlighting the significant results achieved by the previous 17 G20 Presidencies, Prime Minister Modi said India can be a catalyst for a fundamental change in thinking that will benefit humanity as a whole. “Our thinking is shaped by our circumstances. Throughout history, mankind has lived in want. We fought for limited resources because our survival depended on denying them to others. Confrontation and competition – between ideas, ideologies and identities – have become the norm,” he blogged.
Lamenting that the world remains trapped in the same zero-sum mindset today, PM Modi said: “We see it when countries fight over territory or resources. We see it when they are stocked with weapons. We see it when vaccines are stockpiled.” a few, even as billions remain vulnerable.” “Some may argue that confrontation and greed are just human nature. I don’t agree. If humans were inherently selfish, what would explain the enduring appeal of so many spiritual traditions that advocate the fundamental unity of us all? he added.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the theme of India’s G20 presidency – “One Country, One Family, One Future” – is not just a slogan as it takes into account “recent changes in the human condition”. “Home to one-sixth of humanity and with its immense diversity of languages, religions, customs and beliefs, India is a microcosm of the world,” he wrote. “During our G20 presidency, we will present India’s experiences, insights and models as possible role models for others, especially the developing world.” “Our G20 priorities will be shaped in consultation not only with our G20 partners, but also with our fellow travelers in the Global South, whose voices often go unheard.” “India’s G20 agenda will be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented and decisive.”
