Pacific Island nations are large ocean countries, not small island states: Indian PM Modi at FIPIC Summit
Indian PM Modi co-chairs the third FIPIC Summit.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday (May 21) that for him,the Pacific Island nations are "large ocean countries" and notsmall island states. Co-chairing thethird India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit in Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Modi said, "For me, you are large ocean countries and not small island states," the news agency ANI reported. FourteenPacific Island Countries (PICs) took part in the summit.
Modi said thatIndia believesin multilateralism and supports a free, open, and an inclusive Indo-Pacific.
"India is proud to be your development partner. You can count on India as a reliable partner. We are ready to share our experiences and capabilities with you without hesitation," he added.
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Modi also said that New Delhi considers its responsibilityto convey the concerns of the Global South, their expectations, and their aspirations to the world through the G20,adding this was his last effort in the last two days of the G7 Summit.
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Speaking about Covid, the Indian prime minister said that the impact of the pandemic was most on countries of the Global South.
"Challenges related to climate change, natural disasters, hunger, poverty, and health were already there, now new problems are arising...I am happy that India stood by its friendly Pacific Island countries in times of difficulty," he added, ANI reported.
You are the leader of Global South:Papua New Guinea PM tells Modi
Papua New Guinea's Prime MinisterJames Marapethanked Indian PM Modi for assuring him in their bilateral meeting that as India hosts G20 this year, it would advocate on issues related to the Global South.
Calling Modi the "leader of Global South," Prime Minister Marape saidPapua New Guinea would rally behind India's leadership at global forums.
Modi holds bilateral meeting withMarape
Before the summit started, Modi held a bilateral meeting with Papua New Guinea PM Marape. Modi also metPapua New Guinea's Governor-GeneralSir Bob Dadae at the historic Government House.
Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokespersonArindam Bagchi said, "PM Narendra Modi starts off the day in Papua New Guinea with a warm conversation with Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae at the historic Government House. Underlined the significance of India-Papua New Guinea ties and development partnership between the two countries."
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