G20 Day 2 Highlights: As Summit draws to a close, PM Modi passes presidency to Brazil, world leaders hail meet; and more

Later in the evening, PM Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, and discussed issues of mutual interests. On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, he met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and African Union President Azali Assoumani.

From PM Modi handing over G20 Presidency to Brazilian President, to conveying India’s strong concerns over anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada — here are the top highlights from Day 2 of the Summit.

1. 01

   Modi conveys strong concerns over anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada

   Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau New Delhi's strong concerns about the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. As Modi met Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, he noted that the extremist elements were promoting secessionism, inciting violence against the country's diplomats and threatening the Indian community there.

   Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on "mutual respect and trust" is essential for the progress of the India-Canada relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

   Earlier in the day, PM Modi had said that he discussed full range of India-Canada ties across different sectors.

   Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (PTI Photo)

2. 02

   Actions of few don't represent entire community: Trudeau on Khalistani elements in Canada

   Shortly after his meeting with Modi, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but at the same time asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred. He also stressed that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada.

   Trudeau further said India is an "extraordinarily important" economy and an "important partner" of Canada in a range of sectors including fighting climate change and creating economic growth. He added that both sides will continue to look at expansion of existing cooperation.

3. 03

   Modi declares G20 closed, passes gavel to Brazilian president

   The G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 concluded Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over the G20 Presidency gavel to Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, a country which will assume the presidency of the grouping from December 1 this year.

   Addressing the closing session of the G20 Summit, PM Modi proposed holding a virtual session at the end of November to take stock of the progress made on the suggestions in New Delhi.

   Handing over the gavel of the Presidency to Brazil President, Modi said, “We have full faith in the Troika spirit. We will provide our full support to Brazil and are confident that under their leadership, the G-20 will further our shared goals.”

   Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Brazil's President Luiz Inacio da Silva while handing him over the presidency of G20 after the closing session of the G20 Summit 2023 at the Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (PTI Photo)

4. 04

   PM Modi makes fresh push for UN reforms

   Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a fresh push for reforms in global bodies including the United Nations, saying despite the increase in member states of the world body, the number of permanent members in the UN Security Council has remained the same.

   Addressing the "One Future" session of the G20 Summit here, the prime minister said the world's 'new realities' should be reflected in 'new global structure'. He added that tt is nature's law that those who don't change with times lose their relevance.

   Modi also noted that crypto currency was a new subject for social order, monetary and financial stability and sought global standards to regulate it.

5. 05

   G20 grouping can drive solutions to ‘most pressing issues’: US President Biden

   Ahead of his departure to Vietnam, US President Joe Biden on Sunday said the recently concluded G20 Summit in Delhi has proven that the grouping can still drive solutions to its most pressing issues.

   On his first visit to India as the US President, Biden arrived in the national capital on Friday to attend the two-day G20 summit and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the same day. In their over 50-minute talks, Modi and Biden vowed to "deepen and diversify" the bilateral major defence partnership while welcoming forward movement in India's procurement of 31 drones and joint development of jet engines.

   Biden also participated in key sessions of the G20 Summit on Saturday.

6. 06

   Global South helped avoid Ukraine issue overshadowing G20 agenda: Russia

   Calling the G20 Summit in India a success, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that due to the consolidated position of the countries of the Global South, Russia managed to ensure that the meet’s agenda was not overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict.

   Calling it a “breakthrough summit”, Lavrov said it has provided a direction towards fairness in global governance and global finance. He also expressed his gratitude to India for preventing attempts to politicise G20.

   The Russian foreign minister also stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal to hold a virtual G20 meeting in November “will be a reality check on how current decisions are implemented.” Read here

7. 07

   Modi, Macron vow to strengthen India-France defence ties

   After a luncheon meeting with Prime Minister Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that considering the current fragmented environment, India has done well as G20 president.

   The two leaders vowed to strengthen Indo-French defence ties through partnership in design, development and manufacture of advanced defence technologies and platforms including for third countries in the Indo-Pacific.

   Modi and Macron also emphasised the need to expand Indo-French collaboration to address regional and global challenges.

8. 08

   India, Turkey to strengthen trade, infrastructure ties

   Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed strengthening trade and infrastructure relations with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

   Meanwhile, Erdogan said India is his country's greatest trade partner in South Asia and expressed confidence of tapping the huge potential of cooperation between the two countries.

   He also hailed the African Union becoming a member of the G20, saying it would revitalise the grouping.

9. 09

   G20 leaders pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

   Ahead of participating in the concluding session of the G20 Summit, focussed on ‘One Future’, the heads of state visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi Sunday morning.

   Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the leaders one by one, welcoming them at the memorial with a Khadi angavastram or a stole, standing against the backdrop of an image of Bapu Kuti.

   Located near Wardha in Maharashtra, Bapu Kuti was Gandhi’s residence from 1936 until his death in 1948. PM Modi was seen explaining to the leaders about the significance of Bapu Kuti, the mud cottage considered to be the last abode of the Father of the Nation.

   Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Indonesian President Joko Widodo pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat on the final day of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (PTI Photo)

10. 10

    UK PM Rishi Sunak, his wife offer prayers at Akshardham temple

    UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple Sunday morning. The couple arrived at 6.30 am and spent about 40 minutes to an hour at the site.

    UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty at Akshardham temple. (Twitter/@RishiSunak)

    Sunak was garlanded by six priests on behalf of the sixth spiritual guru and president of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), Mahant Swami Maharaj, at the Charnavind (Holy Footprints). Murty was welcomed by women volunteers.

    The couple also visited the surrounding shrines of Radha Krishna, Lakshmi Narayan, Sita Ram and Hanuman, Parvati Shiva and Ganesh.

    Honoured to welcome 🇬🇧 Prime Minister @RishiSunak and #AkshataMurthy to celebrate the shared cultural heritage between India and the UK @BAPS #SwaminarayanAkshardham during the #G20 #LivingBridge pic.twitter.com/6IXtanxn15

    — Swaminarayan Akshardham (@DelhiAkshardham) September 10, 2023