G20 countries strongly reaffirm their commitment to full & effective implementation of 2030 Agenda

G20 countries strongly reaffirm their commitment to full & effective implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development & achievement of its SDGs

G20 countries strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while leaving no one behind. After the day-long meeting and two sessions on SDG and climate issues during the Development Ministers’ meeting at Varanasi, the countries affirmed their commitment to putting sustainable development at the centre of the international cooperation agenda.

Countries also agreed to strengthen G20’s efforts in building an integrated approach for achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions-economic, social and environmental-in a balanced and integrated manner. They called for ambitious, concrete, and collective G20 actions to create opportunities for all and address structural vulnerabilities and imbalances, especially those faced by developing countries, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Addressing the media about the outcome of the meeting External affairs minister S Jaishankar said that India has become the voice of the global south and it has tried to raise the issues of financial gap and debt challenges regarding achieving the sustainable development goals. The concern of the global South countries was raised by India before the developed countries by using the platform of G20, added the Minister.

Talking about the major change brought by India after getting the G20 presidency, He said that India’s approach has brought development back to the focus of G20 and raised hope for the global south countries. Jaishankar said that the participating delegates welcomed the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Who is personally involved in the issues related to SDG and climate change and the address of the Prime Minister actually set the tone for discussions today.

He said that the Action plan of the Development Ministers’ meeting put a sharp focus on women-led development in achieving SDG and India advocated for human-centric economic growth.

S Jaishankar, especially, mentioned the hospitality of Kashi and said that the city made a deep impression in the minds of many delegates who witnessed Ganga Aarti yesterday.