India Emerged As "Consensus Builder, Friend" After G20 Meet: S Jaishankar

Jaishankar was speaking at the launch of a book titled "India and the Future of G20: Shaping Policies for a Better World".

New Delhi: According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, India's G20 presidency was a "notable period" in the country's diplomatic history, during which India became a "friend" and a "consensus builder" internationally.

While speaking at a book launch, Jaishankar made special note of the fact that, despite divides over the Ukraine issue, New Delhi was able to draft a leaders' declaration at last year's G20 Summit in September.

"We had a particularly exciting last 48 hours before we came to that consensus," he remarked, alluding indirectly to the frenzied negotiations that ensued to resolve the disagreements over how to characterize the war in Ukraine in the formal proclamation.

A book called "India and the Future of G20: Shaping Policies for a Better World" was launched at which Jaishankar gave a speech. The event was organized by the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.

"From an Indian perspective, the G20 for us was a test of our ability to emerge as a vishwamitra, a friend, a kind of a consensus builder, a bridge builder in the world today," said Jaishankar.

A "notable period" in India's diplomatic history, according to the minister of external affairs, was the country's tenure as G20 president.

There is much for India to be proud of, he said, from reviving multilateralism to delivering PM Modi's promise to Africa.

One of the most significant achievements of India's leadership of the G20 in 2023 was the admission of the 55-nation African Union (AU) as a permanent member.

On the occasion of India's presidency of the G20, the book explores a wide range of viewpoints expressed by eminent academics, policymakers, and experts in the field.

The digital economy, environmentally friendly supply chains, climate financing, gender equality, the role of the South, and the future of multilateralism are some of the important topics covered by the contributors.