'It's for a nation to decide', says Jaishankar on Xi Jinping skipping G20 virtual summit

Presser ends 

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, "We had temporarily suspended visa issuance because the situation in Canada made it difficult for our diplomats. As the situation has become more secure or relatively improved. I think we have found it possible for the Visa Services to progressively resume..."

"It's for a country to decide who represents them..," says EAM Jaishankar on Chinese President Xi Jinping not present at G20 virtual summit

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is also present alongside Jaishankarm, said that G20 formally adopts regulatory roadmap for crypto assets,

"If I can add a bit more on to the way in which crypto would be dealt with, then the G20 has formally adopted the regulatory roadmap (for crypto assets). The IMF, FSP and the FATF will also be required to provide regular updates to the G20 regarding the progress and implementation of the roadmap on crypto assets," she said.

India's foreign minister S Jaishankar says, "Today's virtual G20 summit, which was chaired by the Prime Minister, has concluded. All 21 members of the G20, including the AU, the nine guest countries and eleven international organisations participated in the meeting. The discussions were fruitful. They were very productive. All leaders congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful steering of India's G 20 presidency."

• I remember last year 16 Nov - I said action oriented, decisive - we have shown during the last year- we have put the G20 to a level.  

• In the last one year we believe and work on -One earth one family one future.​

• I welcome African Union in the G20. G20 sent out inclusivity message to the globe. We are proud that during our presidency - Africa got the chance to raise their voice

• G20 strengthens the Multilateralism.

• In the last month, new challenges have come up in the Middle East, which is a concern for us all.

• We know we all are against terrorism. Killings of civilians are also condemnable.

• We hope that all hostages will be release very soon

• Israel and Hamas conflict shouldn't be spread as regional conflict

• Global South importance should be given priority in this 21st century.

• For DPI implementation in Global South - social impact fund to be establish - India will contribute 25 million dollars for the fund

• Negative use of AI is a big concern now. AI global regulation required. India strongly feels for a joint regulation for AI.

Asserting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should reach people and must be safe for society, Modi called attention to the negative implications of using. He said that AI global regulation required, adding "India strongly feel for a joint regulation on AI".

Insecurity and instability in West Asia is matter of concern for all of us: PM Modi at G20 virtual summit

On release of 50 hostages held in Gaza, PM Modi during G20 Virtual Summit says,"...We welcome the news of the release of hostages. We hope all the hostages will be released soon...."

We have taken G20 to newer heights, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi at virtual summit of G20 leaders

New Delhi on Wednesday (Nov 22) resumed e-visa services for Canadian nationals, as per Indian government sources.

The move comes after nearly a two-month pause, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bombshell allegations against the Government of India (GOI) regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June on Canadian soil.

Trudeau alleged that “agents” of the GOI were involved in Nijjar’s murder, something India strongly denies.

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Ahead of virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on Wednesday (Nov 22), African envoys hailed New Delhi’s presidency.

The Ambassador of Angola to India, Clemente Pedro Francisco Camenha said that India has played an important role in addressing global health challenges.

"India’s contribution has been integral to the success of the global guiding and I would like to take a moment to praise India’s pivotal role in leadership in addressing global health challenges, promotion of sustainable development and promotion of digital transformation," he said.

While, the Ambassador of Eritrea to India, Alem Tsesaye Woldemariam, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in India said, "India’s G20 Presidency has been pivotal in advancing the interests of the Global South and forging a more inclusive world order."

Separately, African envoy, M Aloys Bizindavyi (Ambassador of Burundi to India) thanked India for supporting the inclusion of African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20.

"The Govt of Burundi thanks the govt of India for rising in the support of the voice of our African continent to become a full member of the G20," Bizindavyi said."Africa to have this opportunity to join this family is indeed something that we Indians will never forget about India," Nigeria’s Ambassador in India (Chair of ECOWAS), Ahmed Sule said.

If the top challenge for India during G20 leaders' summit was to ensure that Russian offensive in Ukraine does not overshadow the bigger agenda, this time Delhi has a Canada challenge. 

The Israel-Hamas war is likely to less prominently feature in the G20 virtual summit, because the whole idea of a virtual meet is to take stock of the things that were agreed upon during Leaders' summit in Delhi. 

Delhi's Ottawa challenge at virtual G20 summit

Between G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023 and now, India and Canada have seen their ties plummeting to the lowest. Just a week after G20 summit, on September 19, Canada linked India with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim which was subsequently denounced by India and expulsions of diplomats on the two sides.

Since then, the Nijjar row has become the bilateral flashpoint between India and Canada.

Trudeau was seen as the most snubbed leader during the G20 summit in Delhi, away from media's attention and geo-economic significance, as he chose to skip official dinners and made it a point to attend the formal business of the summit only. As Trudeau was to leave Delhi, his official plane developed a technical malfunction and he had to stay back in India for nearly two days, and denied the Indian offer to take the service of an Indian Air India One plane instead.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the virtual summit.

This will be the first time that Trudeau will come face to face with Modi after a bitter diplomatic standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa in September over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during Delhi G20 summit in September. 

US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will skip the event. The coinciding skipping of G20 virtual summit by the leaders of Washington and Beijing occurs after the two of them met in San Francisco's APEC summit in a bid to smoothen the differences amid ongoing geo-economic tensions aggravated by the chip wars between them. 

China will be represented by Premier Li Qiang. Chinese leader Xi Jinping had skipped the Delhi G20 summit as well after New Delhi declined to dissociate the border tensions with Beijing from the larger bilateral relations between the two.