The Group of Twenty (G20) is a leading forum of the world's major economies that seeks to develop global policies to address today’s most pressing challenges. The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the European Union. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The G20 was born out of a meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors in 1999 who saw a need for a more inclusive body with broader representation to have a stronger impact on addressing the world’s financial challenges. The G7 invited leading markets – both developed and emerging – to form a new ministerial-level forum: the G20.
In 2008, amidst the global financial crisis, the world saw a need for new consensus-building at the highest political level. Since then, the G20 summits have been attended by heads of State or Government, and the G20 was instrumental in stabilizing the world economy. Since then, its agenda has expanded to include additional issues affecting financial markets, trade and development.
Collectively, G20 members represent all inhabited continents, 85% of global economic output, two-thirds of the world's population and 75% of international trade.G20 policy-making is enriched by the participation of key international organisations regularly invited to G20 meetings, guest countries invited at the president's discretion and engagement groups composed of different sectors and the civil society.
Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development, was underlying theme of the 13th G20 Summit held in Argentina from 30 Nov to 01 Dec 2018. Prime Minister Modi made a lead intervention in the first session titled titled ‘Putting People First’, the other two being ‘Building Consensus’ and ‘Enhancing Opportunities’.
With an aim to further connectivity, maritime cooperation and a stable Indo-Pacific, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in Buenos Aires for the historic JAI (Japan, America, India) trilateral on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.
Asserting that India will "continue to work together on shared values," Prime Minister Modi said, "When you look at the acronym of our three countries - Japan, America, and India - it is 'JAI', which stands for success in Hindi. 'JAI' meeting was a convergence of vision between the three nations."
"A historic meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit"
–Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The Heads of State and Government of Brazil, Russia, India,China and South Africa, met on 30 November 2018 for the annual Informal BRICS Leaders’ Meeting on the margins of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The four leaders exchanged views on international political, security and global economic-financial issues, as well as challenges facing sustainable development. They reiterated their commitment to working together to strengthen multilateralism and promote a fair, just, equitable, democratic and representative international order.
"BRICS countries have been contributing to global sustainability and development, we have played an important role in shaping the economic and political structure of the world"
–Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Addressing 'Yoga for Peace' event in Buenos Aires, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that yoga guarantees health as well as wellness. "Yoga means 'to connect’. It connects us with wellness, it connects is with happiness“.
"Yoga is India's gift to the world, which ensures health, wellness and peace"
–Prime Minister Narendra Modi
