Picture : Twitter/ ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a visit to Latin America where he attended the 4th India-SICA (Central America Integration System) Ministerial meeting in Panama.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said India’s motto for the G20 is one earth, one family, one future.
“An India that is a digital deliverer, that is an enthusiast of startups, that is a pharmacy of the world, that is a growing manufacturing power, that is a climate leader, and that is science and technology partner,” he added.
“We admire the role played by SICA in Central American regional integration and thank you collectively and individually for the valuable support that you have extended to forging a strong relationship, as well as supporting India in various international and multilateral forums,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks at the fourth SICA, as reported by ANI.
Jaishankar said as developing countries, SICA members share common perspectives and are confronted with common global challenges.
“I can say that we are suffering from the Covid and the Ukraine conflict, but we also have to deal with preexisting conditions, and these are climate change, poverty reduction, and food and energy security, amongst others,” Jaishankar added, highlighting various global concerns.
“It is with that (preexisting conditions) in mind that Prime Minister Modi took the initiative of holding the voice of Global South summit of 125 nations in which many of you participated. And in the words of Prime Minister Modi was that no group should claim leadership without thinking of those most affected,” Jaishankar said.
“Soliciting the views of the Global South, we dump this as essential in our responsibility as the G 20 chair,” he added.
“2023 is a very special year because of (G20) presidency. But it is also a year of exceptional responsibility because we take up this responsibility at a time when East-West polarization is very strong and North-South divides are getting deeper. The underlying theme of our presidency is Vasudaiva Kutumbakum, which means the world is a family. And again, we have sought to translate this into practical action,” Jaishankar said on world unity.
“Many of you saw for yourselves during the COVID through the Vaccine Maitri, the Vaccine Friendship Initiative, which focused on this region,” he added.
