Global Leaders Converge in New Delhi for G20 Summit

New Delhi– A prestigious gathering of more than 25 world leaders, including notable figures such as US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is set to convene at the upcoming G20 Summit scheduled for September 9-10 in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

This historic event marks India’s debut as the host nation for the summit, which was initiated in response to the 2008 global financial crisis.

The summit will witness the participation of 18 member countries, represented at the highest leadership level. Prominent attendees include Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen.

All but two countries will be represented by their respective leaders at the summit. While Russian President Vladimir Putin will be absent, his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, will attend on his behalf. Similarly, Mexico’s delegation will be headed by Minister of Economy Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez, as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador traditionally opts for ministerial-level representation.

A noteworthy aspect is the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrives in Delhi following an informal conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amidst tense circumstances along the Line of Actual Control. President Biden’s visit to India from September 7 to 10 will also include participation in the G20 Summit. The White House, in its announcement of the visit, lauded PM Modi’s G20 leadership and reiterated the US commitment to the summit’s economic cooperation goals.

The summit aligns with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s state visit on September 11. Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s presence follows his participation in ASEAN summit talks, where PM Modi will also engage from September 6-7, highlighting India’s diplomatic outreach.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit comes subsequent to the BRICS summit, spotlighting the extended role of BRICS in global affairs.

Additionally, India’s hospitality extends to leaders from nine invited nations, including Bangladesh’s PM Sheikh Hasina, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Mauritius’ PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Netherlands’ PM Mark Rutte, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong, Spain’s President Pedro Sanchez, UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, and Oman’s Deputy PM Sayyid Asad Bin Tariq Al Said, who also serves as the personal representative for the Sultan. The Indonesian President will represent ASEAN, and Egypt’s President will represent the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.

This summit will be attended by a total of 27 heads of state/government, accompanied by three ministerial/personal representatives. Distinguished leaders of vital international organizations, such as Ngozi Okonjo Iweala of the WTO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of WHO, and Kristalina Georgieva of the IMF, will also grace the occasion, bringing together a remarkable total of 41 influential figures. The summit will be chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads the G20 grouping.