New York: India’s erudite External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, remarked in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Covid, conflict and climate change were leading to a crisis point. Jaishankar’s message comes following almost 60 meetings with global leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA.
He was speaking at an evening session of The G20 Imperative Green Growth and Development for All, co-hosted by the Observer research foundation, the reliance foundation and UN India.
Jaishankar was responding to a question posed by Samir Saran President Observer research foundation
Asked about India’s priorities for its G20 Presidency which it will assume later this year, Jaishankar indicated that they will be the voice of the global south. “The real issue is no one is listening to them, I met over 60 foreign ministers and that is what they told me.”
“We have broadened the list for G20 to provide a greater voice for countries,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar had participated in the India-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Ministerial meeting and exchanged perspectives on health cooperation, digital linkages and capacity building.
CARICOM group of countries in the developing world is considered to be one of the most advanced regional institutions.
Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, together form CARICOM.
“Our meeting today strengthened a mutual resolve to make the voice of the Global South heard in world councils,” he added.
Jaishankar, who is on a 10-day visit to the United States, interacted with his counterparts from Madagascar, Moroccan and Spain on the fifth day of his stay in New York.