PM Narendra Modi at Hiroshima G7 Summit
Opinion | C Raja Mohan writes: New Delhi and the New Washington Consensus
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi steps up engagement with the US and its allies — at the G7 summit in Hiroshima this week, the Quad summit in Canberra the week after, and bilateral visits to Washington and Paris in June and July — the restructuring of the global economic order will figure high on India’s bilateral and multilateral agenda. As in the geopolitical domain, so in the geoeconomic, there is a growing convergence of interests between Delhi and Washington. Translating that into concrete outcomes will demand much hard work and some creative solutions. The geopolitical consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Western response to it have dominated India’s geopolitical discourse over the last year. But the Indian debate is yet to pay attention to even more consequential geoeconomic changes being unleashed by the vigorous commercial competition unfolding between the US and China.
This live blog is now closed. Follow the latest updates from PM Modi's visit to Papua New Guinea and Australia here.
monthly limit of free stories.
with an Express account.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he views the current situation in Ukraine as an issue of humanity and human values and not of politics or economy even as he called for respecting international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
In an address at a G7 Working Session in Hiroshima, Modi also strongly pitched for raising voice collectively against unilateral attempts to change the status quo, asserting that any tension and dispute should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
The prime minister also referred to his talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday and reiterated that India will do whatever is possible to resolve the conflict. Read more here
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US next month will celebrate the "deep partnership" between the two countries, America's top diplomat said on Sunday as he met his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar here.
Modi will embark on his state visit to the US next month on an invitation by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. His visit to the US comes ahead of the G20 Summit being hosted by India in September.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had a "great discussion" with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the margins of the G7 summit. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by Papua New Guinea’s PM James Marape after he landed in the country for the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit on Sunday.
In a video, Marape and Modi can be seen exchanging a hug and shaking hands after which Marape bends down to touch Modi’s feet. See here
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday arrived in Papua New Guinea where he will host the third summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on May 22 jointly with his counterpart James Marape.
Modi's visit to Papua New Guinea on the second leg of his three-nation tour is the first ever by any Indian prime minister.
He arrived here from Japan where he attended the summit of the G7 advanced economies and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
Modi and Marape will host the third summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on Monday. (PTI)
After wrapping up the G7 Summit in Japan’s Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Papua New Guinea for the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation. Upon landing, he was greeted by Papua New Guinea PM James Marape.
Ukrainian soldiers were still engaging Russian forces in fierce battles in and around Bakhmut on Sunday, military officials said, hours after Moscow and the private army Wagner announced that their troops had taken full control of the eastern city.
The fog of war made it impossible to confirm the situation on the ground in the invasion’s longest battle, and a series of comments from Ukrainian and Russian officials added confusion to the matter.
Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minsiter Hanna Malyar even went so far as to say that Ukrainian troops “took the city in a semi-encirclement.” “The enemy failed to surround Bakhmut, and they lost part of the dominant heights around the city,” Malyar said.
“That is, the advance of our troops in the suburbs along the flanks, which is still ongoing, greatly complicates the enemy’s presence in Bakhmut.” Her comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the Group of Seven summit in Japan, appeared to suggest that Bakhmut had fallen.
PM Modi will proceed to Port Moresby where he will host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape on May 22, the MEA said.
Modi will then visit Sydney in Australia from May 22 to 24 to attend the Quad summit.
The summit, hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will also be attended by US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
After wrapping up the G7 Summit in Japan’s Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Papua New Guinea for the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held productive and wide-ranging talks with Brazilian President Inacio Lula da Silva during which they discussed ways to further deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, especially in sectors of defence production, trade and renewable energy.
Modi and Lula met on the sidelines of the summit of the G7 advanced economies here in Hiroshima, the first meeting between them since the Brazilian leader was reelected as the president for a third term.
The two leaders noted that this year marked the 75th anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Read further here
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy huddled with some of his biggest backers at the Group of Seven meeting in Hiroshima on Sunday, hoping to add to the momentum for his country's war effort even as Russia claimed a symbolic victory on the battlefield.
The Ukrainian leader's in-person appearance during the final day of the summit underscored the centrality of the war for the bloc of rich democracies. It also stole much of the limelight from many of the other priorities, ranging from security challenges in Asia and outreach to the developing world, that the leaders focused on at the three-day gathering.
Zelenskyy was holding two major rounds of meetings Sunday, one with G7 leaders only and a second with the group and a host of invited guests including India, South Korea and Brazil. (AP)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held productive and wide-ranging talks with Brazilian President Inacio Lula da Silva during which they discussed ways to further deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, especially in sectors of defence production, trade and renewable energy.
Modi and Lula met on the sidelines of the summit of the G7 advanced economies here in Hiroshima, the first meeting between them since the Brazilian leader was reelected as the president for a third term. The two leaders noted that this year marked the 75th anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. (PTI)
When US President Joe Biden walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Quad meeting, one of the points he made was the large number of requests he was getting from prominent citizens to attend the Indian leader’s programmes during his next month state visit to Washington DC, officials said on Sunday.
Echoing a similar view, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he too is finding it difficult to accommodate all the requests he is getting for a community event, where Modi will speak on Tuesday, even though the Sydney venue has a capacity of 20,000, officials added. Read more
After attending the three-day long G7 Summiy in Japan's Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Papua New Guinea. He called his visit to Japan "fruitful".
In a tweet, he said, "Met several world leaders during the G-7 Summit and discussed a variety of issues with them. Gratitude to PM @kishida230, the Government and people of Japan for their warmth".
Speaking on Day 3 of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, PM Modi said, "India has always been of the opinion that any tension, any dispute should be resolved peacefully, through dialogue," news agency PTI reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that tension in any region had an impact on all countries, especially developing nations.
Speaking at the G7 Summit, PM Narendra Modi said at a G7 session that "global peace, stability and prosperity is our common objective".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that he does not see the conflict as a political or economic issue and that for him, it is an issue of humanity and human values. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Modi called global peace, stability and prosperity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine was not an issue of politics or economy, but an issue of “humanity, and human values,” news agency PTI reported. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Modi called global peace, stability and prosperity.
When US President Joe Biden walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Quad meeting, one of the points he made was the large number of requests he was getting from prominent citizens to attend the Indian leader's programmes during his next month state visit to Washington DC, news agency PTI reported.
Echoing a similar view, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he too is finding it difficult to accommodate all the requests he is getting for a community event, where Modi will speak on Tuesday, even though the Sydney venue has a capacity of 20,000, officials added. Albanese remembered how at the Narendra Modi stadium more than 90,000 people welcomed him during the victory lap.
Italy's far-right Premier Giorgia Meloni on Sunday rejected criticism from her Canadian counterpart at the G7 Summit about her government's stance on LGBTQ+ rights, news agency PTI reported. A reporter asked Meloni about the criticism at a news conference early on Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan, which is hosting the annual summit of leaders from seven of the world's leading industrialized nations.
On television on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau told Meloni — right before they began private, bilateral talks during the summit — that “Canada is concerned about some of the positions Italy is taking on in terms of LGBT rights.” He added that he was looking forward to talking with the Italian premier about that. (PTI)
On day 3 of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima built in memory of those who died in a nuclear attack at the end of the Second World War and signed the visitor’s book.
With the G7 Summit entering its last day today, we take a look at what happened on Saturday:
? In their first in-person meeting since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India will do “whatever is possible” to find a solution to the conflict.
? Modi and US President Joe Biden shared a hug as they met in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Both Modi and Biden, along with other world leaders, were attending the G7 working session on food, health and development.
? The Quad leaders called for ending the Ukraine war through dialogue and diplomacy while asserting that it must not be an era of war, a formulation that echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position. The leaders of the four Quad nations — Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese — discussed the situation in Ukraine along with other pressing global challenges
? Modi unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The world gets frightened even today when it hears the word ‘Hiroshima’, PM Modi said.
? Amid China’s military expansion in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, Modi said India is committed to protecting its sovereignty and integrity while promoting peaceful resolution of maritime disputes based on international law. In an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Modi said the G7 and G20 summits are crucial platforms for global cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Japan to attend the ongoing G7 Summit, held a bilateral meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak today.
During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed their Strategic Partnership, including taking stock of progress in India-UK FTA negotiations, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. "Leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across a wide range of areas, such as trade & investment, science & technology, higher education, and people to people relationship," he tweeted.
Good morning! Welcome to today's live blog. As the G7 Summit of world leaders enters its last day today, stay tuned for all the latest updates from Hiroshima.
Continuing the series of bilateral meetings on Day 2 of the ongoing G7 Summit, PM Modi met his Cook Islands counterpart Mark Brown to discuss different issues, in Hiroshima today.
In a joint statement issued post the Quad Summit, the participating leaders said that they "unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism". "We are committed to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks and reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and in Pathankot," the statement read.
The third edition of the Quad Summit today saw the participation of India PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazil Prez Lula Da Silva at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima today and said that both the countries will continue working togather to foster ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Ukraine Prez Volodymyr Zelensky that India and he personally "will do everything, whatever is in our reach" for the resolution of the ongoing war in the latter's country. Speaking to Zelenskyy at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Modia said, "We have been in regular touch over the phone, however, we are meeting here after a long time after Glasgow (COP26 meet). The ongoing Ukraine war is a huge issue and has had a major impact on the entire world. However, I do not consider it a political or economic matter. For me, it is a humanitarian issue, a matter of human values. You know the agony of the war, better than all of us here. I could understand the suffering of Ukraine, based on the accounts of Indian students upon their arrival in India."PM @narendramodi met President @ZelenskyyUa of Ukraine in Hiroshima. pic.twitter.com/yIAP1A1Zd3— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) May 20, 2023
With united efforts, we are giving practical dimension to our vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific in crucial sectors such as climate action, disaster management, strategic technologies, reliable supply chain, health security, maritime security, counter-terrorism, etc. We are moving forward on basis of constructive agenda and democratic principles. With united efforts, we are giving practical dimension to our vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Quad will continue to work towards human welfare, peace and prosperity, ' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Quad Summit today.
PM Narendra Modi said that the Quad group has established itself as an important platform for peace, stability and prosperity in the Ind0- Pacific. "This region is the engine for global trade, innovation and development, " he added.
Quad leaders PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida attended the Quad meeting today in Hiroshima.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid down a 10-point call to action and highlighted the importance of working together to combat issues and address challenges pertaining to healthcare, food security, wellness, etc., while speaking at a session on ‘Working Together to Address Multiple Crisis’ at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima today.
Prime Minister Narendra met European Union's Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Union Council President Charles Michel at the G7 Summit today.
PM Narendra Modi shared hugs with US President Joe Biden and British PM Rishi Sunak as they met today in Hiroshima, on the occasion of G7 Summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Hiroshima, on the occasion of G7 Summit.
On the sidelines of G7 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima today. THis is the first meeting between the two since the Russia-Ukraine war that started last year.PM @narendramodi held talks with President @ZelenskyyUa during the G-7 Summit in Hiroshima. pic.twitter.com/tEk3hWku7a— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 20, 2023
In a joint statement issued Saturday, the G7 leaders emphasised they were seeking “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing, “recognising the importance of engaging candidly with and expressing our concerns directly to China.” “We call on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine,” it said. (Reuters)
They also called for a “peaceful resolution” of China's claim to Taiwan, which has remained unresolved since the communists gained power on the Chinese mainland in 1949.
The statement highlighted a consensus that efforts to diversify manufacturing supply chains and ensure stable access to strategically vital minerals and other resources is not aimed at unravelling trade ties with the world's second-largest economy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the First Lady of Indonesia Iriana Joko Widodo and tweeted that strong relations with Indonesia is a priority for India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Hiroshima.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida held bilateral discussions at the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan's Hiroshima.
"We reviewed the full range of India-Japan relations and also discussed the focus areas of India’s G-20 Presidency and Japan’s G-7 Presidency towards making our planet better," Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo at the sidelines of the ongoing G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
"We talked about ways to enhance cooperation in futuristic sectors like IT, innovation, technology, semiconductors and more. Boosting commercial linkages and defence ties also featured prominently in the discussions," Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Hiroshima, Japan, for the G7 summit, met Hiroko Takayama, an artist who "has a close association with India".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Hiroshima, Japan, for the G7 summit, interacted with Professor Tomio Mizokami, a Padma Awardee, and a Hindi and Punjabi linguist.
"He has made numerous efforts to make Indian culture and literature popular among the people of Japan," Modi wrote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday. “This bust in Hiroshima gives a very important message. The Gandhian ideals of peace and harmony reverberate globally and give strength to millions,” he wrote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Saturday evening, people familiar with the matter told news agency PTI.
It will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The meeting is happening over a month after Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova visited India, the report said.
Modi is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks on Saturday with his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio, French President Emmanuel Macron and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh among others, according to the news agency. (PTI)
The leaders of the world's richest democracies agreed Friday to stiffen their sanctions against Russia and pledged financial support for Ukraine as its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, prepared to join them in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, news agency Reuters reported.
The leaders said that they had ensured that Ukraine had the budget support it needs for this year and early 2024.
"Today we are taking new steps to ensure that Russia's illegal aggression against the sovereign state of Ukraine fails and to support the Ukrainian people in their quest for a just peace rooted in respect for international law," Reuters report quoted the statement by G7 leaders. (Reuters)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday, in an interview to Japanese publication Nikkie Asia, said that India's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine "is clear and unwavering."
"India stands on the side of peace and will remain firmly there. We are committed to supporting those who face challenges in meeting their basic needs, especially in the face of rising costs of food, fuel, and fertilizers. We maintain communication with both Russia and Ukraine," Modi said.
"Cooperation and collaboration should define our times, not conflict," he told Nikkei Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when asked to comment on the country's relations with Pakistan, Friday asserted that India wants "normal and neighborly relations," Japanese news agency Nikkie Asia reported.
'However, it is incumbent upon them to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostilities. The onus is on Pakistan to take necessary steps in this regard,' the PM added.
Amid the India-China standoff in eastern Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said that India is fully prepared and committed to protecting its sovereignty and dignity, news agency PTI reported.
In an interview with Japanese publication Nikkei Asia, Modi stressed on his country's respect for sovereignty, the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Peace and tranquillity on the border with China is essential for normal ties with the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, news agency Reuters reported.
Ties between India and China have deteriorated since 2020, as troops from both nations clashed on the disputed Himalayan frontier, killing 24 people.
"India-China relations can only develop based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests," Modi said in an interview to Japanese news agency Nikkei Asia.
In an interview to Nikkie Asia ahead of his arrival in Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday vowed to 'amplify the voices and concerns of the Global South' at the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
"My presence in this G7 summit is particularly meaningful as India holds the G20 presidency this year. I look forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited partners on challenges that the world faces and the need to collectively address them," the PM said, according to news agency PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday met the members of the Indian diaspora as he arrived at Sheraton Hotel in Hiroshima, according to news agency ANI, to attend the annual G7 summit to be held between May 19 and 21.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday arrived in Hiroshima after departing from New Delhi to attend the annual G7 summit to be held between May 19 and 21.
Leaders of the world richest democracies agreed Friday to stiffen the sanctions against Russia and pledged financial support for Ukraine as its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, prepares to join them in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, news agency Reuters reported.