Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Johannesburg on Friday to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit, scheduled from November 21 to 23. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome upon landing.
The 2025 summit marks the first time the G20 is being hosted on the African continent. During the meetings, the Prime Minister is expected to engage in discussions centred on India and the broader Global South, officials said.
This is the Prime Minister’s fourth visit to South Africa in an official capacity. His previous visits include a bilateral trip in 2016 and attendance at the BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023.
South Africa’s G20 presidency continues the sequence of summits hosted by countries of the Global South. The last three presidencies were held by Brazil (2024), India (2023) and Indonesia (2022).
Speaking ahead of the summit, Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, noted that consensus-building and new collaborative initiatives have been key to recent G20 sessions. He said South Africa has identified four priority verticals for its presidency, and discussions through the year have maintained a focus on matters relevant to the Global South.
“We are very happy that the issues of importance to the Global South are at the centre of discussion and are being highlighted,” Dalela said.
The G20 represents major global economies accounting for around 85% of the world’s GDP and 75% of international trade. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” South Africa’s presidency has outlined priority areas that will be taken up during the four sessions of the Leaders’ Summit.
On bilateral engagements expected on the sidelines of the summit, Dalela said scheduling is under way. He noted that cooperation between India and South Africa is rooted in shared democratic values and spans three pillars, including political cooperation.
-ANI