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SUMMARY: PM Modi’s Meetings With G7 Counterparts

Following his meeting in Germany with G7 leaders, Indian PM Narendra Modi will now visit Abu Dhabi for a brief stopover.

June 28, 2022

Author

Statecraft Staff
SUMMARY: PM Modi’s Meetings With G7 Counterparts 
India PM Narendra Modi said that despite the “atmosphere of global tension,” India has always supported peace, dialogue, and diplomacy.
IMAGE SOURCE: TWITTER / PRASAR BHARATI NEWS

Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi wrapped up his tour of Germany for the G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau on Monday. He addressed two special sessions at the event and also held individual meetings and interacted with each of the member nations. Here is a summary of his major engagements in Schloss Elmau:

PM Modi’s Address at the G7 Summit

PM Modi attended and addressed two sessions with the themes “Stronger Together: Addressing Food Security and Advancing Gender Equality” and “Investing in a Better Future: Climate, Energy, Health.”

During his address at the meeting on food security and gender equality, PM Modi stressed that despite the “atmosphere of global tension,” India has always supported peace, dialogue, and diplomacy. 

Modi noted that the geopolitical tensions in Europe had caused a rise in energy and food grain prices across the world. He remarked that this is threatening energy and food security across the world, especially in developing countries. In this regard, he applauded India’s delivery of 35,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, alongside other relief material, adding that aid efforts have been expanded in light of the recent earthquake in the crisis-torn country. He also touched on assistance to Sri Lanka during its ongoing food and energy crisis, with India providing the island nation close to $3 billion in currency swaps, lines of credit, loan deferments, and fuel deliveries since the crisis began in January.

Keeping these crises in mind, Modi made four suggestions to facilitate global food security. Firstly, he said that global efforts should be made to protect the availability and ‘value chains’ of fertilisers on a global scale. To this end, he stressed that India has already begun increasing the production of fertilisers and called for the G7’s cooperation on the issue.

Secondly, he proposed the use of India’s immense agricultural manpower, which he noted is much larger than other members of the group, and agricultural talent by creating a “structured system” in G7 member nations.

Thirdly, in light of the upcoming International Year of Millets, he recommended promoting the use of alternate grains such as millets, which could be valuable in combatting the food security crisis.

Lastly, he suggested other G7 members to deploy experts to study India’s “natural farming” revolution.

On the issue of gender equality, he celebrated India’s shift from “women’s development” to “women-led development” to ensure that women are participating in the decision-making process. He also applauded the leading role played by women in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, lauding the efforts of six million female frontline workers, women scientists, and rural health workers.

Modi also addressed a session on climate, energy, and health. He raised concern about the “fundamental collision between the developmental goals of the world and environmental protection.” However, he clarified that the belief that poorer countries cause more environmental damage is a misconception.

Citing the Indian example, he said that despite being the fastest growing economy and housing 17% of the world’s population, India is only responsible for 5% of global carbon emissions, which he noted is a result of long-standing practices that promote “co-existence with nature.” Keeping this in mind, he claimed India had met its target of meeting 40% of its energy needs from non-fossil fuel sources nine years ahead of schedule.

He also raised concern about the skewed impact of the rising energy prices on poorer communities. To this end, he highlighted India’s efforts to deliver LED bulbs and clean cooking gas to poor families, which he said was an example that “carbon emissions can be saved while ensuring energy for the poor.”

In this respect, he expressed hope that India’s ‘ambition’ would be matched by G7 investment in research, innovation, and manufacturing in India’s clean energy industry. He declared, “The scale that India can provide for every new technology can make that technology affordable for the whole world.” He further reiterated his call for a shift to an “eco-friendly lifestyle” or “LIFE – Lifestyle for Environment,” which he first made in Glasgow last yearat the COP26 summit. 

PM Modi further stressed on the interconnection between “human and planet health.” Hence, he proposed the idea of “one world, one health,” which he said India pursued in the COVID-19 pandemic by using digital technology in the health sector.

He further promoted the use of yoga as a “preventative” tool for people across the world. In a similar vein, he lauded the “valuable asset of traditional medicine.”

Meeting With European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

On the sidelines of the G7 summit, Modi met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The pair celebrated the resumption of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two sides following a nine-year hiatus. Von der Leyen assured India of working on its promise to provide nano-fertilisers in a bid to further food security.

The pair also discussed the progress made in the establishment of the Trade and Technology Council, which was set up following their meeting in April to enhance cooperation and counter challenges in trade, trusted technology, and security.

Furthermore, they exchanged opinions on “global and regional developments” and discussed bolstering cooperation in various sectors such as digital cooperation, climate action, and technology and innovation

Meeting With German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

PM Modi also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the second time in the last two months. They reiterated their combined position to promote their Green and Sustainable Development Partnership and further discussed issues like climate action, the provision of climate financing, and technology transfer. They vowed to deepen engagement in international bodies, particularly during India’s upcoming G20 Presidency.

Modi also met with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Italian PM Mario Draghi, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, and British PM Boris Johnson.

Author

Statecraft Staff

Editorial Team

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