“I want to congratulate Brazil’s president and my friend
Lula da Silva, and hand over the presidency’s gavel to him,” Modi said.
Modi congratulated Lula, while handing him over the
presidency of G20 after the closing session of the G20 Summit 2023 at the
Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi
Brazil officially will take over the mantle of the presidency
of the elite grouping on December 01, 2023. Speaking on the occasion, Lula
congratulated Modi and thanked India for its efforts to give voice to the
topics of interest to emerging economies.
Lula also listed social inclusion, the fight against hunger,
energy transition and sustainable development as G20 priorities.
He said the UN Security Council needs new developing
countries as permanent, non-permanent members to regain political strength.
“We want greater representation for emerging countries at
the World Bank and the IMF,” he said.
“Brazilian
presidency of the G20 has three priorities — first, social inclusion and fight
against hunger. Second, energy transition and sustainable development in its
three aspects... Third, the reform of global governance institutions.
“All these priorities are part of the Brazilian presidency
motto which says ‘building a fair world and a sustainable planet’. Two task
forces will be created — global alliance against hunger and poverty and the
global mobilization against climate change.”
Lula
said on Saturday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin would not be arrested in Brazil
if he attends the Group of 20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro next year.
Interviewed on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Delhi by
news show Firstpost, Lula said Putin would be invited to next year’s event,
adding that he himself planned to attend a BRICS bloc of developing nations
meeting due in Russia before the Rio meeting.
“I believe that Putin can go easily to Brazil,” Lula said. “What I can say to
you is that if I’m president of Brazil, and he comes to Brazil, there’s no way
he will be arrested.”
On the occasion, Modi proposed to hold a virtual session of
G20 at the end of November this year.
“In the last two days, you have put forward your views,
given suggestions and a number of proposals have been put forward. It is our
responsibility that the suggestions that have come forth are closely looked
upon as to how they can be speeded up,” Modi said.
“It is my proposal that we hold another session of the G20
virtually in November-end. In that session, we can review the issues that have
been agreed upon during this summit. Our teams will share the details of it
with all of view. I hope all of you will join this (session),” he said.
“With this, I declare the G20 summit as closed,” Modi
said.
