Sixteenth G-20 Summit begins in Rome

The 16th G-20 Summit has begun in Rome, Italy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in the Summit along with other Heads of State of G-20 Member Countries, the European Union and other invited countries and International Organizations. This year, the Summit is centered around the theme - People, Planet, Prosperity. The thrust of the Summit is on economic and health recovery, climate change and sustainable development. Today's session is on the global economy and global health and it is very significant in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The leaders are discussing the global economic and health recovery and the way forward. India has been a strong advocate in the G-20 for supporting equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 disease control tools, including vaccines and diagnostics through technology transfer, diversification of supply chains and production house. New Delhi has also proposed mutual recognition of the COVID-19 vaccine certificate at G-20. It comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US, plus the European Union. Together, the G20 members represent almost two-thirds of the planet's population and accounted for some 80 per cent of global gross domestic product and over 75 per cent of global trade in 2020.