The G20 development ministers’ meeting in Varanasi on Monday produced two outcomes that were unanimously endorsed by the group: an action plan to speed up progress on the SDGs and another on sustainable development lifestyles. Foreign minister S. Jaishankar referred to these outcomes as the biggest accomplishment under India’s presidency despite the Ukraine issue once again casting a shadow.
G20 came together to support India’s action plan
According to Jaishankar, the G20 came together to support India’s action plan without getting bogged down in politics after acknowledging for the first time that the Global South was dealing with significant issues. He claimed that the emphasis was once again on development and the real issues particularly the Global South, was facing.
Development ministerial settled for an outcome document
However, similar to the meetings of the foreign and finance ministers earlier this year, the development ministerial also had to settle for an outcome document and chair’s summary in place of a joint communique due to concerns expressed by Russia and China regarding a few paragraphs pertaining to Ukraine.
No mention of Ukraine Crisis
The meeting outcome should not make any mention of the Ukraine crisis, China said, while Russia “disassociated” itself from the status of the document referring to mention of paragraphs pertaining to Ukraine.
Biggest achievement of India’s presidency
Jaishankar said, “These 2 very important outcomes found unanimous support. This central to all development and, frankly, the biggest achievement of our presidency so far. When the countries of the Global South read this document, they will say India heard us.”
Food and fuel shortage pain points of Global south
“It was understandable last year that the focus was on more immediate issues pertaining to the conflict. But slowly a narrative started to build that it should not shift focus from away what are the pain points of the Global South, like food and fuel shortages. We are in no way diminishing the consequences of the conflict, but the conflict was dealt with through an agreed understanding in Bali (G20 summit last year) at the level of the leaders,” added the minister.
