The G20 Summit for the year 2023 is set to commence today, bringing together an assembly of world leaders at the magnificent Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. Over the next two days, the summit will see participation from prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, and Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Here’s a glimpse of the full schedule and key updates as the event unfolds.
PM Modi’s Vision
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his confidence that the G20 Summit 2023 would pave the way for a new era of human-centric and inclusive development.
Expectations and Challenges
As the national capital of India gears up for this major global event, the host nation worked tirelessly to reach last-minute agreements on critical issues such as the Ukraine conflict, climate action, and global governance. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has cautioned that differences among leaders could escalate tensions and erode public trust.
Notable Absence
Before the summit even began, it faced a setback when Chinese President Xi Jinping opted to skip the event, delegating his role to Premier Li Qiang. Although no official reason was provided for President Xi’s absence, it is known that India and China have been embroiled in a border dispute.
India’s Optimism
Despite the challenges, Prime Minister Modi expressed optimism that the summit would successfully conclude with a joint communique reached through consensus. India’s top G20 officials, at a pre-summit news conference, mentioned that the declaration was nearly finalized, avoiding specifics on contentious topics like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and climate change.
Day 1 – September 9
- 9:30 am to 10:30 am: Arrival of leaders and delegation heads at the summit venue, Bharat Mandapam, with a welcome photograph alongside the Prime Minister at the Tree of Life Foyer. Subsequently, leaders and delegation heads convene at the Leaders’ Lounge on Level 2 at Bharat Mandapam.
- 10:30 am to 1:30 pm: The first session, titled ‘One Earth,’ takes place at the Summit Hall in Bharat Mandapam, followed by a working lunch.
- 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm: Various bilateral meetings are scheduled.
- 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm: The second session, ‘One Family,’ unfolds at the summit venue before leaders return to their accommodations.
- 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Arrival of leaders and delegation heads for dinner, marked by a welcome photograph upon arrival.
- 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm: During dinner, leaders engage in discussions over their meal.
- 9:00 pm to 9:45 pm: Leaders and delegation heads reconvene at the Leaders’ Lounge in Bharat Mandapam to conclude the day.
Day 2 – September 10
- 8:15 am to 9:00 am: Leaders and delegation heads arrive in individual motorcades at Rajghat, where they participate in a signing ceremony for the peace wall within the Leaders’ Lounge at Rajghat.
- 9:00 am to 9:20 am: World leaders pay tribute by laying wreaths at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi, followed by a live performance of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite devotional songs. Subsequently, leaders and delegation heads convene at Bharat Mandapam’s Leaders’ Lounge.
- 9:40 am to 10:15 am: Arrival of leaders and delegation heads at Bharat Mandapam.
- 10:15 am to 10:30 am: Tree planting ceremony at Bharat Mandapam’s South Plaza.
- 10:30 am to 12:30 pm: The third session of the summit, titled ‘One Future,’ unfolds at the venue, culminating in the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration.
G20 Summit Attendees Confirmed attendees include:
- Joe Biden
- Rishi Sunak
- Fumio Kishida
- Justin Trudeau
- Emmanuel Macron
- Anthony Albanese
- Olaf Scholz
- Yoon Suk Yeol
- Cyril Ramaphosa
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Leaders notably absent are:
- Xi Jinping
- Vladimir Putin
- Pedro Sanchez
- Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
The G20 Summit promises to be a pivotal event for international cooperation and discussions on pressing global issues. Stay tuned for updates on this significant gathering of world leaders.”