The African Union (AU), a bloc of 55 countries, today joined the G20 as its new permanent member with all member countries accepting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to this effect.
"With support from all of you, I invite African Union to join G20," Modi said amid thunderous applause by world leaders at the G20 Summit as he inaugurated the event.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar escorted Azali Assoumani, the president of the Union of Comoros and chairperson of the AU, to take his seat at the G20 high table.
It was in 2022 that Modi had first mooted the idea of making AU, which has a combined GDP of more than $2 trillion, as a permanent member of the G20.
As the summit opened, Modi, US President Joe Biden and other top leaders of developed and developing countries began deliberations on pressing global challenges under the shadow of the Ukraine war that has significantly fragmented the global geopolitical order.
Hosting the summit for the first time, India is looking at producing tangible results in areas of financing for climate transition, digital public infrastructure, accelerated implementation of sustainable development goals, framework for cryptocurrency and reform of the international financial institutions.
The summit is hosting over 30 global leaders, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron, among others.
Konark Wheel replica as backdrop
A replica of the Konark Wheel from the 13th-century Sun temple in the eastern Indian state Odisha's Puri served as the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handshake with G20 leaders, including Hasina, as they reached the summit venue, Bharat Mandapam.
The Konark Wheel, built during the reign of King Narasimhadeva-I, has 24 spokes and has also been adapted into the tricolour, embodying India's ancient wisdom, advanced civilisation and architectural excellence.
The wheel's rotating motion symbolises time, "Kaalchakra", as well as progress and continuous change.
