Renowned British economist Jim O'Neill, known for coining the BRIC acronym, has commended India's hosting of the G20 summit, calling it a substantial diplomatic victory for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Renowned British economist Jim O'Neill, known for coining the BRIC acronym, has commended India's hosting of the G20 summit, calling it a substantial diplomatic victory for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to WIONs diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, O'Neill, who currently serves as a senior adviser at Chatham House reflected on the unique ability of New Delhi to foster strong relations with both Western powers and emerging economies. However, he also expressed disappointment over the expansion of BRICS and the recent Canada-India tug-of-war that threatens to undo the good work of the G20 Summit. Sidhant Sibal: What do you think about the BRICS grouping? Jim O'Neill: I think we have to think about differently in terms of the economics, the geopolitics. Obviously, when I created the acronym, which is now just over 22 years ago, it was completely based on economic ideas. Although I did suggest because of it, each of the four big BRIC countries Brazil, Russia, India, and China should become part of what I then described as an expanded G7- at the same time as the Euro members, Germany, France and Italy consolidating to just one. So it would effectively be something like a G8 to G9. But the main thing that I was focused on was the rising share of global GDP that each of the four BRIC countries would likely achieve in the coming decades. And of course, China, in particular, in a similar way, although not on the same scale. China and India have become much bigger, although Brazil and Russia have been especially since the start of the second decade of the acronym very disappointing, so much so that their weight in global GDP is actually back to where it was in 2001. And South Africa, whilst it's a very interesting country geopolitically, of course, very interesting with Africa, economically, it's not a particularly important country. It's not even the biggest country in the continent of Africa. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the expansion of the BRICS grouping? Jim O'Neill: I am disappointed by it, for a number of reasons, but there are three basic ones. First of all, since they became a political grouping in 2009-10, the BRICS leaders have not really achieved anything. Partly because of their own differences, which perhaps we'll discuss more is particularly true of course, between India and China, but they don't seem to have gotten beyond this very powerful symbolism as being a group that doesn't involve the US and is constantly bemoaning their lack of representation in global governance. The second reason is there was no objective guidance as to why, for example, in Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt became members and a country that is much more important, strategically, economically, and demographically, Nigeria was not and why, in Latin America, not Mexico, but Argentina, and it seems like a very ramshackle group of cultures that were chosen rather than any real strategic obvious ways. And then the third reason is simple one is that if you expand any group of countries, as you see with G20, the more you add, the harder it becomes. So I'm not quite sure other than there's really big symbolism, quite what the expanded BRICS is supposed to be trying to achieve. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India and China's worsening ties impacting BRICS dynamics? Jim O'Neill: I think it itself undermines anything the BRICS countries may try and achieve. And in fact, as I wrote something last week, about the G-20 meeting that was successfully hosted by Modi. I think it was a major diplomatic mistake of President Xi to not personally attend the G20. It was only two weeks after the BRICS meeting, he appeared to as did the Chinese media making huge amounts of propaganda about how important it was that he didn't even have the courtesy of turning up to a G20 meeting hosted by a fellow BRICS country, and they obviously suggest that the relationship between China and India is not good. So how can the BRICS group achieve anything when its two most important members don't really seem to agree on virtually anything of mutual importance? Other than this symbolism, they both independently like to claim that the leader of the Global South. Watch | From G20 to Italy leaving BRI: Are nations abandoning China? × Sidhant Sibal: How do you see the outcomes of the G20 summit, the joint statement...diplomatically a win.. Jim O'Neill: Well, it was, but of course, the disputes with Canada are threatening to overshadow what appeared to be quite a very successful, diplomatic success for Modi. In the background of the G20, and because of Russia, but also because of the growing and worrying disputes between the US and China, many people myself included, were worried that the G20 would struggle to function. In fact, there were some fears that would not even be a communique at this G20. But not only was there a very long communique, but also, of course, it was a very, very interesting decision to add the African Union to make it effectively a G21. And I think there was obviously some very clever diplomacy going on between senior G20 Sherpas in Washington and New Delhi, which made all of that possible. And in my opinion, I really welcome that because I do believe the G20 is the right forum to deal with truly, truly global issues of today because especially now with the African Union in there, you have over 85 per cent of global GDP and vast amounts of the world's population represented whereas in the expanded BRICS, or the G7 you don't have either. Sidhant Sibal: Personally for PM Modi how big the diplomatic victory was? Jim O'Neill: Well, I think it was a huge diplomatic victory, and it tended to suggest that Modi treats the G20 more seriously than he treats the BRICS group. But it also suggests that India has this very, very clever ability to navigate good relationships with the West, as well as good relationships with the so-called emerging world, and manage to navigate the very difficult global geopolitical situation between the US and China. I must say if it would not have been for the dispute with Canada, which does threaten to overshadow all of this, it would have been a great successful moment. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India being the voice of the global south, and this at a time when China is also trying to achieve that? Jim O'Neill: I mean, I think it's impossible for China to disappear as a voice on anything. China over the past 25 years, has been the single biggest contributor to global GDP growth, more than the United States. And there are not any particular markets in the world whether it be commodities or tourism, or anything that the Chinese don't have a major impact on. And that's true about global diplomacy and of course, China's own voice ever sings itself, the leader of the Global South. I think we will continue with this slightly strange, almost competitive situation where each of China and India regards themselves as the leader of the Global South, which frankly, will become more and more interesting. Also read | Explained: Balancing act or anti-West pivot? India’s choices at the BRICS summit As each of these countries becomes bigger and of course, because of each of their dynamics, it is probably the case that over the next decade, India will grow by more than China. And India by the end of this decade will probably become at least as big if not bigger than Germany and get close to being the third-largest economy ahead of Japan. This means India's stance on many of these issues, including being the voice of the Global South, will become more and more credible. But China's not going away anywhere soon. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India diplomatically weighing as its economic size grows? Jim O'Neill: I mean, I think if you look through long history, and I'm not a particular expert on these issues but casual observation suggests that countries that get bigger, become more and more important in global affairs, including diplomacy. So we already see it and in fact, probably the whole reason why the United States was very eager to support Modi in having a successful G20 is the recognition of India's growing importance already. India in the past two years has become bigger than France and the UK has to be the fifth largest economy in the world. And as it gets to be the third largest, it is going to become more important, in all of these issues around the world. Sidhant Sibal: You mention Canada, how do you see India-Canada ties faring.. Jim O'Neill: I'm very reluctant to comment on that because it's not something I am particularly an expert on or have inside knowledge or expertise. But obviously, it looks like the Canadians feel very, very upset by it and I was just reading something this morning about how they've shared their intelligence with with Western allies. So we will have to see how this dispute develops. And it might well be a bit of a challenge as to how Mr Modi presents his own position on this issue because obviously, along with becoming a bigger voice also means you have to take greater accountability and responsibility for your position on what many many countries regard as the right principles as you go forward. So it's something that Mr Modi and his advisors are going to have to think about very carefully. Sidhant Sibal: Which is the group, you will be willing to place your money on.. Jim O'Neill: Easy for me, the G20. Even though all of these different bodies have great difficulties being fruitful in this complex modern world. I think the G7 nor the BRICS are in the slightest bit capable of being globally influential. I think the G20, because effectively, it is an amalgamation of the BRICS as it was before it expanded on the G7 is a very, very sensible grouping, which is of sufficiently small numbers, compared to the UN, where it can really deal with big global issues, whether they be economic growth, economic fairness, global climate change, infectious disease prevention and so on. And I think we saw some of that in the New Delhi statements. It's very much a relief after a few years where the G20 became almost dysfunctional that it seems to be back on some kind of track. And in fact, if the G20 can carry on that position, then it might in itself, be able to help the UN become a little more, a bit more functional than it seems to be but the UN is a very, very complex organization in trying to get things done that it represents. Sidhant Sibal: Any more acronyms you working on? Jim O'Neill: I just like to say that there were only two acronyms that were truly created. One was the BRIC and the other was the N11 or the next 11. What you read about other acronyms I suppose they created were effectively created on the back of just articles I wrote and somebody somewhere in the global media created that acronym and claimed it was me. So that was a phase of three or four years of slightly acronym madness, and I joked to a couple of people I know well, in the international diplomatic circles that after this BRICS expansion, perhaps the reason if there was a logic as to why they chose the countries is it was impossible to create an acronym in English out of them. But I won't be rushing to create anymore because I think the BRICS world lives on. And if they are going to expand in the future, it probably will come from members of the next 11 largest emerging nations like Indonesia. Maybe Mexico maybe Turkey...who knows WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

G20 summit a "huge diplomatic victory" for India and PM Modi, says Jim O'Neill

Xi Jinping’s decision to skip the G20 Summit in India has sort of created a negative perception of the Chinese leader and the success of the meet has made Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the clear winner, British economist Jim O'Neill, who coined the acronym BRIC (now BRICS), said.

He said that the successful completion of the summit, which culminated in the joint New Delhi declaration, has overshadowed G7 and the BRICS.

The economist further said that G20 declaration could be the first step in a stronger concerted effort to address global issues, asserting that Modi now looks more like a ''visionary statesman'' than Xi.

“The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration has offered further confirmation that the G20 is the only body with the scope and legitimacy to offer truly global solutions to global problems, and neither the BRICS nor the G7 has the credibility or the capacity to tackle these challenges ranging from climate change to the war in Ukraine and economic stability among other matters,” he said in a write-up on the 'Project Syndicate'.

<h2>China-India rift further deepened&nbsp;</h2>

Jim O'Neill noted that Xi’s absence at the New Delhi summit has further deepened the rift between China and India, and could possibly undermine the BRICS, which recently admitted new members.

“Many speculate that Xi skipped the summit in order to snub India – one of China’s longstanding rivals – and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whatever the motive, his decision had the effect of undermining the significance of the recent BRICS meeting, which many saw as a victory for China,” he said.

He also noted that the lack of Indo-Chinese solidarity will be a major stumbling block for the new BRICS.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-geopolitics-of-g20-summit-635708">The Geopolitics of G20 Summit</a>

<h2>Xi has to reach out to Modi</h2>

“Now, Xi’s absence from the G20 summit has deepened the divide between the two countries. If Xi wants to convince us otherwise, he will need to reach out to Modi. As matters stand, the success of the G20 meeting makes Modi the clear winner in this season of summitry. Perceptions matter, and right now he looks more like a visionary statesman than Xi does,” he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-france-and-uk-refuse-to-lift-sanctions-on-iran-under-jcpoa-636069">Germany, France and UK refuse to lift sanctions on Iran under JCPOA</a>

The G20 Summit under India’s presidency was historic considering the fact that the African Union was included in the G20 fold, a move initiated by India, and the declaration of the ambitious India-Middle East-EU trade corridor which is being pegged as a countermeasure to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Xi Jinping’s decision to skip the G20 Summit in India has sort of created a negative perception of the Chinese leader and the success of the meet has made Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the clear winner, British economist Jim O'Neill, who coined the acronym BRIC (now BRICS), said.

Xi Jinping’s decision to skip the G20 Summit in India has sort of created a negative perception of the Chinese leader and the success of the meet has made Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the clear winner, British economist Jim O'Neill, who coined the acronym BRIC (now BRICS), said. He said that the successful completion of the summit, which culminated in the joint New Delhi declaration, has overshadowed G7 and the BRICS. The economist further said that G20 declaration could be the first step in a stronger concerted effort to address global issues, asserting that Modi now looks more like a ''visionary statesman'' than Xi. “The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration has offered further confirmation that the G20 is the only body with the scope and legitimacy to offer truly global solutions to global problems, and neither the BRICS nor the G7 has the credibility or the capacity to tackle these challenges ranging from climate change to the war in Ukraine and economic stability among other matters,” he said in a write-up on the 'Project Syndicate'. China-India rift further deepened Jim O'Neill noted that Xi’s absence at the New Delhi summit has further deepened the rift between China and India, and could possibly undermine the BRICS, which recently admitted new members. “Many speculate that Xi skipped the summit in order to snub India – one of China’s longstanding rivals – and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whatever the motive, his decision had the effect of undermining the significance of the recent BRICS meeting, which many saw as a victory for China,” he said. He also noted that the lack of Indo-Chinese solidarity will be a major stumbling block for the new BRICS. Also read | The Geopolitics of G20 Summit Xi has to reach out to Modi “Now, Xi’s absence from the G20 summit has deepened the divide between the two countries. If Xi wants to convince us otherwise, he will need to reach out to Modi. As matters stand, the success of the G20 meeting makes Modi the clear winner in this season of summitry. Perceptions matter, and right now he looks more like a visionary statesman than Xi does,” he added. Also read | Germany, France and UK refuse to lift sanctions on Iran under JCPOA The G20 Summit under India’s presidency was historic considering the fact that the African Union was included in the G20 fold, a move initiated by India, and the declaration of the ambitious India-Middle East-EU trade corridor which is being pegged as a countermeasure to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China’s Xi snubbing G20 Summit a costly mistake, makes India the clear winner: Economist who coined BRIC

India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has hailed the recently concluded G20 Summit as "one of the greatest diplomatic victories for India" which saw a resounding display of multilateral cooperation.

The summit on September 9-10 is viewed as a significant victory for inclusiveness and global development, with multiple outcomes spanning climate initiatives to cryptocurrency discussions.

Speaking to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Kant revealed the extensive efforts that went into Ukraine paras in the G20 Joint statement, the New Delhi Declaration.

"We must have spent about close over 200 hours, just on Russia, Ukraine, having over about close to 300 Odd bilateral meetings, many 15-16 drafts of it, but we managed to bring everybody together,” he said.

Kant highlighted the collaborative efforts of India, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia, with strong support from Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Turkey, which ultimately led to China's endorsement.

This united front symbolised a victory for multilateralism, Kant said.

WION: How significant was the moment of India hosting the summit and giving direction to many issues that the world is grappling with?

Amitabh Kant: I think it's a very, very important and a very key moment in India's history. I think what India has demonstrated is its great ability to bring the developed world, the emerging markets, Russia or China, all together and arrive at a consensus on all developmental issues and all geopolitical issues. So, all 83 paras, no footnote, no chair summary, no brackets, full consensus, only India could have done it. No other country and India has done it because it has a leader of the stature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Because of his standing and his stature, we could really take it forward vigorously.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

WION: How was India able to bring the consensus? 

Amitabh Kant: So, by the time we got into the final round of Sherpa Negotiations on September 3 we still had many challenges. You know, we had a challenge of climate. We had a challenge on energy. We had several challenges on the finance track, some footnotes&nbsp;were there.&nbsp;But I think the&nbsp;real key challenge was the geopolitical issue. So, we sorted it out one by one, we sorted out climate, we sorted out energy. Then we had a joint meeting with finance. We sorted out all the issues. But on September 4, morning, we started discussing the geopolitical issue.

We started on a clean slate, by spelling out the principles and laying them down clearly. And then getting everybody else to give their principles, and we drafted several drafts, and then on that para itself,&nbsp;we must have spent about close over 200 hours, just that one para, on Russia, Ukraine. We spent about, I mean, that's written as 8 paras, with Prime Minister's "today's era is not an era of war", as the last para, as one line para. But we must have spent over 200 hours, non-stop 24 into seven, without sleeping just discussing that para. Having over about close to 300 odd bilateral meetings, many 15-16 drafts of it, but we managed to bring everybody together.

We managed to bring the right balance between all countries, the developed and the emerging markets.&nbsp;We worked with Brazil, we worked with South Africa, we worked with Indonesia all together on this and we finally managed to&nbsp;just say that this is it. This is the best paragraph.&nbsp;This is the best draft we can possibly bring it, which brings the best balance amongst all countries. It's strong, you know some people are saying it's a dilution on Bali. I do not agree, it's a very strong para, big because it recalls Bali, It brings in the national positions.&nbsp;It reiterates the UN resolutions on this issue and then clearly says that there will be no territorial acquisition. It brings out the UN principles on territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence, all of which, are very strong. So it's a very strong para.

 
WION: What was the role played by developing countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, and others?

Amitabh Kant: Very important, very critical, because India worked with Brazil and South Africa. We later brought in Indonesia, and all four of us worked together, but we were fully backed by Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina and Turkey, all so about eight countries. This led to China supporting this, because once they realised that there were eight countries working together, China also supported it.&nbsp;And we knew all the red lines of all the G7 countries, &nbsp;we worked with them as well.

We convince them that this is the best thing. It's a win-win for everyone. G7 has won, Russia has won in this, emerging markets have won, one everyone has won this, and we've brought multilateralism to the centre stage, we bought. We brought development centre stage;&nbsp;we said that the priorities of the emerging markets in developing countries are really about development and growth. We brought that centre stage.

&nbsp;

WION: The statement saw no condemnation of Russia, and many saw it as the West taking a step back

Amitabh Kant: But it has a very strong language. Let me tell you, this is a mistaken notion, where did Bali say that there will be no territorial acquisition? Did the Bali language say that there will be territorial integrity? Did the Bali language talk about sovereignty or political independence? No. We brought all these principles back in this. We recall Bali here. We reiterate our national possessions and yet we say this. This was never there in Bali. It's a far stronger statement than Bali.

&nbsp;

WION: Did China, at any point, try to sabotage the conversation?

Amitabh Kant: Once the emerging markets were together, China worked with us. And let me tell you very clearly, China is a multilateral player, it may have bilateral issues, but it is a multilateral player on a multilateral forum. It worked together with us, even though they had many issues with us. They had many, many issues, but later we worked together. Once they realised that we were working for the good of G20, for the good of emerging markets, they supported us on all issues. They supported us on women's development, on LiFE, on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, and they supported us on all growth and development.

&nbsp;

WION: How did Prime Minister Modi’s intervention help? He also came here at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan and met everyone

Amitabh Kant: As you know, the prime minister has been the key factor. This is the prime minister's G20, he is the leader, and his stature and standing are key. I am only his Sherpa. I could not have succeeded without the strength of the prime minister. And therefore, all credit goes to him because he led from the front. I believe that I could take a strong courageous stand because my prime minister is strong. And therefore, I could fall back on him whenever required.

&nbsp;

WION: How will history remember India and the G20 Summit under its presidency? How pivotal was it?

Amitabh Kant: So, I think the history will remember it as one of the greatest diplomatic victories for India. It's a vote for multilateralism. It's a vote for development. It's a vote for growth. It's a vote for women-led development. It's a vote for human-centric growth. It's a vote for inclusiveness. It's a vote for bringing development to the centre stage. And it's really a vote for India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

&nbsp;

WION: Now we are part of the troika. Our presidency gets over in November, as part of the troika, how will we help spread the gains made here in Delhi to the other presidencies?

Amitabh Kant: The Prime Minister wants a virtual session. Therefore, we have to start working on actually moving forward with the implementation from our side. Many key areas where we need to push on with other countries, as well as within our ministries. So, we started work on that already. The prime minister has given us some tasks, and we'll have to prepare for that and then for the virtual summit. He wants to push.

But let me just conclude by saying that I've got all the support. The prime minister has led from the front and gave us strength because he had his vision. We could fulfill his vision. And because of a strong leadership, we believed, we could do this. I've also got a lot of support, a lot of wisdom, a lot of guidance from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He's been a big source of constant support and motivation for us. And he's provided us with a lot of guidance throughout.

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India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has hailed the recently concluded G20 Summit as "one of the greatest diplomatic victories for India" which saw a resounding display of multilateral cooperation.

India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has hailed the recently concluded G20 Summit as "one of the greatest diplomatic victories for India" which saw a resounding display of multilateral cooperation. The summit on September 9-10 is viewed as a significant victory for inclusiveness and global development, with multiple outcomes spanning climate initiatives to cryptocurrency discussions. Speaking to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Kant revealed the extensive efforts that went into Ukraine paras in the G20 Joint statement, the New Delhi Declaration. "We must have spent about close over 200 hours, just on Russia, Ukraine, having over about close to 300 Odd bilateral meetings, many 15-16 drafts of it, but we managed to bring everybody together,” he said. Kant highlighted the collaborative efforts of India, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia, with strong support from Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina, and Turkey, which ultimately led to China's endorsement. This united front symbolised a victory for multilateralism, Kant said. WION: How significant was the moment of India hosting the summit and giving direction to many issues that the world is grappling with? Amitabh Kant: I think it's a very, very important and a very key moment in India's history. I think what India has demonstrated is its great ability to bring the developed world, the emerging markets, Russia or China, all together and arrive at a consensus on all developmental issues and all geopolitical issues. So, all 83 paras, no footnote, no chair summary, no brackets, full consensus, only India could have done it. No other country and India has done it because it has a leader of the stature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Because of his standing and his stature, we could really take it forward vigorously. WION: How was India able to bring the consensus? Amitabh Kant: So, by the time we got into the final round of Sherpa Negotiations on September 3 we still had many challenges. You know, we had a challenge of climate. We had a challenge on energy. We had several challenges on the finance track, some footnotes were there. But I think the real key challenge was the geopolitical issue. So, we sorted it out one by one, we sorted out climate, we sorted out energy. Then we had a joint meeting with finance. We sorted out all the issues. But on September 4, morning, we started discussing the geopolitical issue. We started on a clean slate, by spelling out the principles and laying them down clearly. And then getting everybody else to give their principles, and we drafted several drafts, and then on that para itself, we must have spent about close over 200 hours, just that one para, on Russia, Ukraine. We spent about, I mean, that's written as 8 paras, with Prime Minister's "today's era is not an era of war", as the last para, as one line para. But we must have spent over 200 hours, non-stop 24 into seven, without sleeping just discussing that para. Having over about close to 300 odd bilateral meetings, many 15-16 drafts of it, but we managed to bring everybody together. We managed to bring the right balance between all countries, the developed and the emerging markets. We worked with Brazil, we worked with South Africa, we worked with Indonesia all together on this and we finally managed to just say that this is it. This is the best paragraph. This is the best draft we can possibly bring it, which brings the best balance amongst all countries. It's strong, you know some people are saying it's a dilution on Bali. I do not agree, it's a very strong para, big because it recalls Bali, It brings in the national positions. It reiterates the UN resolutions on this issue and then clearly says that there will be no territorial acquisition. It brings out the UN principles on territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence, all of which, are very strong. So it's a very strong para. WION: What was the role played by developing countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, and others? Amitabh Kant: Very important, very critical, because India worked with Brazil and South Africa. We later brought in Indonesia, and all four of us worked together, but we were fully backed by Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Argentina and Turkey, all so about eight countries. This led to China supporting this, because once they realised that there were eight countries working together, China also supported it. And we knew all the red lines of all the G7 countries, we worked with them as well. We convince them that this is the best thing. It's a win-win for everyone. G7 has won, Russia has won in this, emerging markets have won, one everyone has won this, and we've brought multilateralism to the centre stage, we bought. We brought development centre stage; we said that the priorities of the emerging markets in developing countries are really about development and growth. We brought that centre stage. WION: The statement saw no condemnation of Russia, and many saw it as the West taking a step back Amitabh Kant: But it has a very strong language. Let me tell you, this is a mistaken notion, where did Bali say that there will be no territorial acquisition? Did the Bali language say that there will be territorial integrity? Did the Bali language talk about sovereignty or political independence? No. We brought all these principles back in this. We recall Bali here. We reiterate our national possessions and yet we say this. This was never there in Bali. It's a far stronger statement than Bali. WION: Did China, at any point, try to sabotage the conversation? Amitabh Kant: Once the emerging markets were together, China worked with us. And let me tell you very clearly, China is a multilateral player, it may have bilateral issues, but it is a multilateral player on a multilateral forum. It worked together with us, even though they had many issues with us. They had many, many issues, but later we worked together. Once they realised that we were working for the good of G20, for the good of emerging markets, they supported us on all issues. They supported us on women's development, on LiFE, on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, and they supported us on all growth and development. WION: How did Prime Minister Modi’s intervention help? He also came here at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan and met everyone Amitabh Kant: As you know, the prime minister has been the key factor. This is the prime minister's G20, he is the leader, and his stature and standing are key. I am only his Sherpa. I could not have succeeded without the strength of the prime minister. And therefore, all credit goes to him because he led from the front. I believe that I could take a strong courageous stand because my prime minister is strong. And therefore, I could fall back on him whenever required. WION: How will history remember India and the G20 Summit under its presidency? How pivotal was it? Amitabh Kant: So, I think the history will remember it as one of the greatest diplomatic victories for India. It's a vote for multilateralism. It's a vote for development. It's a vote for growth. It's a vote for women-led development. It's a vote for human-centric growth. It's a vote for inclusiveness. It's a vote for bringing development to the centre stage. And it's really a vote for India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. WION: Now we are part of the troika. Our presidency gets over in November, as part of the troika, how will we help spread the gains made here in Delhi to the other presidencies? Amitabh Kant: The Prime Minister wants a virtual session. Therefore, we have to start working on actually moving forward with the implementation from our side. Many key areas where we need to push on with other countries, as well as within our ministries. So, we started work on that already. The prime minister has given us some tasks, and we'll have to prepare for that and then for the virtual summit. He wants to push. But let me just conclude by saying that I've got all the support. The prime minister has led from the front and gave us strength because he had his vision. We could fulfill his vision. And because of a strong leadership, we believed, we could do this. I've also got a lot of support, a lot of wisdom, a lot of guidance from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He's been a big source of constant support and motivation for us. And he's provided us with a lot of guidance throughout. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

200 hours dedicated on G20 Ukraine paras, emerging markets played key role: India's Sherpa Amitabh Kant

Ugo Astuto, the European Union's Ambassador to India, has lauded India's recent G20 Summit as a major achievement in global diplomacy.

Astuto commended India's presidency for its ability to "bring together the international community to make the G20 relevant."&nbsp;

Speaking to WION, Astuto highlighted the pivotal issues discussed during the summit, including "climate change, digital transition, and also the pursuit of sustainable development goals, and also women's empowerment."

He emphasised that these topics received the spotlight they deserved on this prestigious international platform.

One particularly noteworthy outcome of the summit was the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-how-diplomacy-of-modis-bharat-pulled-off-african-unions-inclusion-634443">inclusion of the African Union in the G20</a>, which Astuto termed "a major positive development."

He expressed confidence that the African Union's involvement would enrich the conversations and decisions made within the G20.&nbsp;

Reflecting on the European Union's role in achieving consensus during the summit, Astuto stated, "We must all work together for the pursuit of sustainable development goals just to make an example."&nbsp;

Regarding his tenure as the EU Ambassador to India, Astuto pointed out key milestones, including the decision to "resume the negotiation for a free trade agreement."

He also noted the establishment of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), describing these as significant steps towards elevating the EU-India strategic partnership.

Here is the full interview

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Sidhant Sibal: Welcome to WION and I know that this is perhaps your last interview before you leave the country with fond memories. If you can sum up your ambassadorship here in New Delhi.

Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;Thank you. Yes, I think I've been privileged to serve India in this period where we have seen this progress in our strategic partnership. Let me recall some landmark moments. Let me start with the summit in 2021. The decision was taken to resume the negotiation for a free trade agreement.

So it was a very particular summit because we had all member states, together with the Prime Minister.

And I think it was very clear evidence of the sheer determination to bring this relationship to a new level.&nbsp;And then we had the visit of the President of the European Commission in 2022.

And the announcement of the creation of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), which finally met for the first edition not so long ago, in Brussels. Here now I ended on a happy note with a visit of both Presidents for the G20 summit and they also had the possibility to meet bilaterally with Prime Minister Modi and reiterate our intention to progress in practically all dimensions of our relationship.

Sidhant Sibal:&nbsp;But essentially, as you pointed out to TTC, if you can, perhaps talk about how it came about and what is the future like in terms of this platform being an area of engagement between the Indian and the European ministers. 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;Yes, well, I'm sure you're aware, we already have another instance of trade and Technology Council with the United States. And this gives you already a flavour of how important it is for us, this sort of format. It's a format that brings together three ministers from the Indian side and two or more vice presidents depending on the topics discussed. On the agenda, you have issues which are crucial, which are about the nexus between trade and technology, and I'm told that the conversation in Brussels was extremely thorough, and it made evident how convergent we are on a number of topics. Let's say the resilience of supply chains for instance, or the need to foster green technology. So these are the sorts of topics that we shall see also in the next in the next meeting of the TTC which is bound to happen.

Sidhant Sibal:&nbsp;So can you give us any update of the free trade agreement negotiations, we saw the trade commissioner was here in Delhi. He briefed on that in that extensive press conference. But for our viewers, if you can give us an overview of where the talks have progressed. 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;Yes, well, we have had five rounds of talks and we note progress. There will be another round in Brussels around the month of October. We saw the trade commissioner, Vice President's visit to India, it was to Jaipur for the G20 and then we had a high-level dialogue with minister (Piyush) Goyal.

And what struck me in these interactions was not just the friendly atmosphere, but also the determination shown by both sides to progress. India as the fifth largest economy is on its way to becoming the third largest.

The EU is the largest trade bloc globally. I think a free trade agreement would be a big price for both.

Sidhant Sibal: There must be some challenges as well, perhaps if you want to talk about that as well. Something that you think that you missed or you would like to see it happening as well. 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;Look, I think the major challenge for me, as well as my predecessor or successor, is to translate this strategic partnership into operational deliverables. I think we have started to do so but the potential is still considerable.

Sidhant Sibal:&nbsp;&nbsp;How does the EU see India in today's world? I know there has been engagement, you pointed to TTC, but in terms of all the other countries in the region, you have China, Africa, and with the US you have a special relationship. In relative terms how important India is for the EU? 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;I think we see this relationship grow by the day and it's natural because we have shared values. We are both democratic countries, open societies, and we have converging interests, for instance, in upholding the UN Charter and making sure that the rules-based world order remains underpinned by international law.&nbsp;

And then based on shared values and converging interests, we can together address global challenges, which are becoming more crucial by the day. I'm referring to climate change. I think both India and the European Union start from the same proposition that we need to act fast and act now. And that's why we have now a pretty good and extensive conversation on how to do so. How to look for instance at the greener energy mix. In the digital transition, we want to promote innovation.

We want to foster competition, but also we also want to protect the individual rights and freedoms of our citizens. So we need to look closely at data protection for instance. And that's another topic where the EU and India can mutually benefit by exchanging experiences. These are just a few examples, there can be many others, in security, in defence, in academic cooperation.

And in general terms, I think in scientific endeavours, India and the EU can learn a lot from each other. Most recently we have seen a great success of the Indian Space Scientists, and it was good to see that actually there was cooperation with the European Space Agency also supporting this major endeavour.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: In your tenure, you saw conflict in Europe. Your assessment...

Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;&nbsp;I think I respect the Indian position, we understand its constraints. We see in Europe, unfortunately, an instance of a major violation of the UN Charter. Totally unjustified aggression against the peaceful neighbour.&nbsp;It's important that the international community comes together, condemns the aggression and takes action to stop it. The Russians must withdraw the troops and get back to the internationally recognised borders.

But I think what the Prime Minister says is not the time for war is evidence of the fact that India can play a very positive role.

Sidhant Sibal:&nbsp;So now coming to G20. How do you see the Indian presidency of the G20? The summit just got over the weekend. And we saw that consensus as well.

Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;I think it has been a great success for the Indian new presidency to bring together the international community to make the G20 relevant.&nbsp;If you look at the discussions held you see some of the topics we have already mentioned: climate change, digital transition, and also the pursuit of sustainable development goals, and also women's empowerment, getting the spotlight in this major international platform. So I definitely think that India deserves to be commended, but let me mention specifically the inclusion of the African Union in G20.&nbsp;I think a major positive development and the African Union will bring added value to the conversation.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Role EU Played in Joint Statement. So if you can talk about the EU's role in making sure that joint statement came. 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;I think we have tried to help the Indian Presidency in reaching consensus.&nbsp;The topics were very relevant for the international community.&nbsp;We must all work together for the pursuit of sustainable development goals just to make an example. So I think we did our best to support the Indian presidency in circumstances far from easy, in a very difficult international setting.

Sidhant Sibal: But about the joint statement, Delhi joint statement versus the Bali joint statement, these paras never condemned Russia, something perhaps you would have liked to see but essentially do you see a step back by the European Union, by the Western world on the issue? 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;I think we need to look at this statement and the statement contains very important facts and principles. So there is a clear call for respect of the UN Charter, respect for territorial integrity and the sovereignty of states as there is the threat of the use of nuclear weapons, it is termed as unacceptable. Clear ask to resume as soon as possible, the Black Sea grain initiative, there is a call for just and durable peace. So I think these are all very important principles.

Sidhant Sibal: We also saw a tweet by the Ukrainian government spokesperson saying that the 20 statements are nothing to be proud of. Do you agree with this statement? 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;&nbsp;Look, our support for Ukraine is staunch and remains so and we have tried to support Ukraine from the very beginning and we will continue to do so. So nothing has changed when it comes to our strong support for Ukraine. The fight for&nbsp;Ukraine,&nbsp;for freedom, for independence, for democracy is also our fight.

Sidhant Sibal: Over the weekend we did the mega connectivity project, the project that connects India to the Middle East to Europe.&nbsp;&nbsp;How do you see this connectivity project as a game changer when it comes to the region? 
 
Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;I think it's a very important development.&nbsp;Yes, it's about building connectivity bridges, which are underpinned by transparency, principles of inclusivity and sustainability, social sustainability, fiscal sustainability.&nbsp;The European Union has already in place a major policy initiative in this respect, you're familiar with that Global Gateway, so we have set aside 300 billion euros for the year 2021- 2027, precisely for them, to build sustainable infrastructure. And I think this new initiative that brings India with the Middle East with the US, will fit perfectly to that framework. So it is a very momentous decision and a very, very significant development.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: But so any details as to how this project will come up, as of now we have seen the vision statement, fact sheet by the White House but essentially how things will go about in terms of who will put in the money, which port will be used, which railroads will be used? Are we going to build new rail railroads, if you can shed some light on the details? 
 
Ugo Astuto: The work is starting now, all the parties will come together and see what priorities to define. But from our side again, if you look at Global Gateway, you get the general flavor, and idea of what we can do when it comes to the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor.

Sidhant Sibal: Has this corridor been seen as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative?

Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;I think this project deserves to be seen on its own merit.&nbsp;The principles are publicly negotiated and I think it's a positive agenda. So I would look at it as its own feature,&nbsp;It's not directed against anyone. It's a positive project that brings together a number of partners who are convinced that we need to work for infrastructure which is sustainable, and which needs to be developed in a transparent and inclusive fashion.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: My last question and perhaps your last public word as well, as you demit office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Future of India and the EU in today's world. If you can give your answer to this, I know it's a generic question but I want this because this will be the word that history will perhaps remember&nbsp;

Ugo Astuto:&nbsp;Thank you. I definitely in my humble opinion that we have ample scope for progressing further. We have made great strides and I think the potential is huge. And I'm pretty sure that we'll see in the years to come the strategic partnership going from strength to strength.&nbsp;

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Ugo Astuto, the European Union's Ambassador to India, has lauded India's recent G20 Summit as a major achievement in global diplomacy. Astuto commended India's presidency for its ability to "bring together the international community to make the G20 relevant.

Ugo Astuto, the European Union's Ambassador to India, has lauded India's recent G20 Summit as a major achievement in global diplomacy. Astuto commended India's presidency for its ability to "bring together the international community to make the G20 relevant." Speaking to WION, Astuto highlighted the pivotal issues discussed during the summit, including "climate change, digital transition, and also the pursuit of sustainable development goals, and also women's empowerment." He emphasised that these topics received the spotlight they deserved on this prestigious international platform. One particularly noteworthy outcome of the summit was the inclusion of the African Union in the G20, which Astuto termed "a major positive development." He expressed confidence that the African Union's involvement would enrich the conversations and decisions made within the G20. Reflecting on the European Union's role in achieving consensus during the summit, Astuto stated, "We must all work together for the pursuit of sustainable development goals just to make an example." Regarding his tenure as the EU Ambassador to India, Astuto pointed out key milestones, including the decision to "resume the negotiation for a free trade agreement." He also noted the establishment of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), describing these as significant steps towards elevating the EU-India strategic partnership. Here is the full interview × Sidhant Sibal: Welcome to WION and I know that this is perhaps your last interview before you leave the country with fond memories. If you can sum up your ambassadorship here in New Delhi. Ugo Astuto: Thank you. Yes, I think I've been privileged to serve India in this period where we have seen this progress in our strategic partnership. Let me recall some landmark moments. Let me start with the summit in 2021. The decision was taken to resume the negotiation for a free trade agreement. So it was a very particular summit because we had all member states, together with the Prime Minister. And I think it was very clear evidence of the sheer determination to bring this relationship to a new level. And then we had the visit of the President of the European Commission in 2022. And the announcement of the creation of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), which finally met for the first edition not so long ago, in Brussels. Here now I ended on a happy note with a visit of both Presidents for the G20 summit and they also had the possibility to meet bilaterally with Prime Minister Modi and reiterate our intention to progress in practically all dimensions of our relationship. Sidhant Sibal: But essentially, as you pointed out to TTC, if you can, perhaps talk about how it came about and what is the future like in terms of this platform being an area of engagement between the Indian and the European ministers. Ugo Astuto: Yes, well, I'm sure you're aware, we already have another instance of trade and Technology Council with the United States. And this gives you already a flavour of how important it is for us, this sort of format. It's a format that brings together three ministers from the Indian side and two or more vice presidents depending on the topics discussed. On the agenda, you have issues which are crucial, which are about the nexus between trade and technology, and I'm told that the conversation in Brussels was extremely thorough, and it made evident how convergent we are on a number of topics. Let's say the resilience of supply chains for instance, or the need to foster green technology. So these are the sorts of topics that we shall see also in the next in the next meeting of the TTC which is bound to happen. Sidhant Sibal: So can you give us any update of the free trade agreement negotiations, we saw the trade commissioner was here in Delhi. He briefed on that in that extensive press conference. But for our viewers, if you can give us an overview of where the talks have progressed. Ugo Astuto: Yes, well, we have had five rounds of talks and we note progress. There will be another round in Brussels around the month of October. We saw the trade commissioner, Vice President's visit to India, it was to Jaipur for the G20 and then we had a high-level dialogue with minister (Piyush) Goyal. And what struck me in these interactions was not just the friendly atmosphere, but also the determination shown by both sides to progress. India as the fifth largest economy is on its way to becoming the third largest. The EU is the largest trade bloc globally. I think a free trade agreement would be a big price for both. Sidhant Sibal: There must be some challenges as well, perhaps if you want to talk about that as well. Something that you think that you missed or you would like to see it happening as well. Ugo Astuto: Look, I think the major challenge for me, as well as my predecessor or successor, is to translate this strategic partnership into operational deliverables. I think we have started to do so but the potential is still considerable. Sidhant Sibal: How does the EU see India in today's world? I know there has been engagement, you pointed to TTC, but in terms of all the other countries in the region, you have China, Africa, and with the US you have a special relationship. In relative terms how important India is for the EU? Ugo Astuto: I think we see this relationship grow by the day and it's natural because we have shared values. We are both democratic countries, open societies, and we have converging interests, for instance, in upholding the UN Charter and making sure that the rules-based world order remains underpinned by international law. And then based on shared values and converging interests, we can together address global challenges, which are becoming more crucial by the day. I'm referring to climate change. I think both India and the European Union start from the same proposition that we need to act fast and act now. And that's why we have now a pretty good and extensive conversation on how to do so. How to look for instance at the greener energy mix. In the digital transition, we want to promote innovation. We want to foster competition, but also we also want to protect the individual rights and freedoms of our citizens. So we need to look closely at data protection for instance. And that's another topic where the EU and India can mutually benefit by exchanging experiences. These are just a few examples, there can be many others, in security, in defence, in academic cooperation. And in general terms, I think in scientific endeavours, India and the EU can learn a lot from each other. Most recently we have seen a great success of the Indian Space Scientists, and it was good to see that actually there was cooperation with the European Space Agency also supporting this major endeavour. Sidhant Sibal: In your tenure, you saw conflict in Europe. Your assessment... Ugo Astuto: I think I respect the Indian position, we understand its constraints. We see in Europe, unfortunately, an instance of a major violation of the UN Charter. Totally unjustified aggression against the peaceful neighbour. It's important that the international community comes together, condemns the aggression and takes action to stop it. The Russians must withdraw the troops and get back to the internationally recognised borders. But I think what the Prime Minister says is not the time for war is evidence of the fact that India can play a very positive role. Sidhant Sibal: So now coming to G20. How do you see the Indian presidency of the G20? The summit just got over the weekend. And we saw that consensus as well. Ugo Astuto: I think it has been a great success for the Indian new presidency to bring together the international community to make the G20 relevant. If you look at the discussions held you see some of the topics we have already mentioned: climate change, digital transition, and also the pursuit of sustainable development goals, and also women's empowerment, getting the spotlight in this major international platform. So I definitely think that India deserves to be commended, but let me mention specifically the inclusion of the African Union in G20. I think a major positive development and the African Union will bring added value to the conversation. Sidhant Sibal: Role EU Played in Joint Statement. So if you can talk about the EU's role in making sure that joint statement came. Ugo Astuto: I think we have tried to help the Indian Presidency in reaching consensus. The topics were very relevant for the international community. We must all work together for the pursuit of sustainable development goals just to make an example. So I think we did our best to support the Indian presidency in circumstances far from easy, in a very difficult international setting. Sidhant Sibal: But about the joint statement, Delhi joint statement versus the Bali joint statement, these paras never condemned Russia, something perhaps you would have liked to see but essentially do you see a step back by the European Union, by the Western world on the issue? Ugo Astuto: I think we need to look at this statement and the statement contains very important facts and principles. So there is a clear call for respect of the UN Charter, respect for territorial integrity and the sovereignty of states as there is the threat of the use of nuclear weapons, it is termed as unacceptable. Clear ask to resume as soon as possible, the Black Sea grain initiative, there is a call for just and durable peace. So I think these are all very important principles. Sidhant Sibal: We also saw a tweet by the Ukrainian government spokesperson saying that the 20 statements are nothing to be proud of. Do you agree with this statement? Ugo Astuto: Look, our support for Ukraine is staunch and remains so and we have tried to support Ukraine from the very beginning and we will continue to do so. So nothing has changed when it comes to our strong support for Ukraine. The fight for Ukraine, for freedom, for independence, for democracy is also our fight. Sidhant Sibal: Over the weekend we did the mega connectivity project, the project that connects India to the Middle East to Europe. How do you see this connectivity project as a game changer when it comes to the region? Ugo Astuto: I think it's a very important development. Yes, it's about building connectivity bridges, which are underpinned by transparency, principles of inclusivity and sustainability, social sustainability, fiscal sustainability. The European Union has already in place a major policy initiative in this respect, you're familiar with that Global Gateway, so we have set aside 300 billion euros for the year 2021- 2027, precisely for them, to build sustainable infrastructure. And I think this new initiative that brings India with the Middle East with the US, will fit perfectly to that framework. So it is a very momentous decision and a very, very significant development. Sidhant Sibal: But so any details as to how this project will come up, as of now we have seen the vision statement, fact sheet by the White House but essentially how things will go about in terms of who will put in the money, which port will be used, which railroads will be used? Are we going to build new rail railroads, if you can shed some light on the details? Ugo Astuto: The work is starting now, all the parties will come together and see what priorities to define. But from our side again, if you look at Global Gateway, you get the general flavor, and idea of what we can do when it comes to the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. Sidhant Sibal: Has this corridor been seen as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative? Ugo Astuto: I think this project deserves to be seen on its own merit. The principles are publicly negotiated and I think it's a positive agenda. So I would look at it as its own feature, It's not directed against anyone. It's a positive project that brings together a number of partners who are convinced that we need to work for infrastructure which is sustainable, and which needs to be developed in a transparent and inclusive fashion. Sidhant Sibal: My last question and perhaps your last public word as well, as you demit office. Future of India and the EU in today's world. If you can give your answer to this, I know it's a generic question but I want this because this will be the word that history will perhaps remember Ugo Astuto: Thank you. I definitely in my humble opinion that we have ample scope for progressing further. We have made great strides and I think the potential is huge. And I'm pretty sure that we'll see in the years to come the strategic partnership going from strength to strength. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EU Ambassador Ugo Astuto applauds India's G20 presidency as a success story

With the G20 summit just around the corner, India's Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, shared insights into the nation's preparations and diplomatic initiatives. As the host of the G20 summit on September 9th and 10th in Delhi, world leaders will be reaching the Indian national capital in next 24 hours.

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