Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Meloni for the invitation to this summit. He wished Chancellor Scholz a very happy birthday. This G7 summit is both special and historic, and I extend my heartiest congratulations to all members of the G7 on the group's 50th anniversary.
'Many friends among you were occupied with the European Parliament elections last week. Some will encounter election fervor in the coming times. Back home, India too was immersed in election time. The enormity and uniqueness of India's elections can be understood through some numbers: over 2600 political parties, more than 1 million polling booths, over 5 million EVMs, 15 million polling staff, and about 970 million voters, of which 640 million exercised their right to vote.' Modi stated.
'The 21st century is the century of technology'
He continued, 'This has been the world's largest democratic exercise and a vibrant example of our ancient values as the birthplace of democracy. It is my great fortune that the people of India have given me the opportunity to serve them for the third consecutive time. This is the first time in the last six decades in India. The people of India have given their blessings in the form of this historic victory, which is not only the victory of democracy in India but also of the entire democratic world.'
PM Modi stated, 'The 21st century is undoubtedly the century of technology. Scarcely an aspect of human life remains untouched by the influence of technology. While on one hand technology empowers humans to reach the moon, on the other, it also poses challenges such as cybersecurity. We must work together to ensure that the benefits of technology are accessible to all segments of society. That is not only our aspiration but our responsibility. We must transform technology monopolies into democracies. Our goal should be to give technology a constructive, rather than destructive, direction. Only then can we lay the foundation for an inclusive society.'
Prime Minister Modi noted that 'India, with its human-centric approach, is striving for a better future. India is among the first few countries to devise a national strategy for artificial intelligence. Based on this strategy, we have launched the AI Mission this year. Its core mantra is 'A.I. for All.' As a founding member and the lead chair of the Global Partnership for A.I., we are fostering cooperation among all nations.'
'During the G20 summit hosted by India last year, we emphasized the importance of international governance in the field of AI. We will continue to work together with all countries to make AI transparent, fair, secure, accessible, and responsible in the future.'
'A tree in the name of the mother'
Modi explained, 'In the field of energy, India's approach is based on four principles - Availability, Accessibility, Affordability, and Acceptability. India is the first country to complete its commitments under COP ahead of schedule. We are making every possible effort to achieve our commitment to a net-zero goal by 2070. We should all strive to transform the coming era into the green era. To this end, India has launched the LiFE mission or Lifestyle For the Environment. Moving forward with this mission, on June 5, Environment Day, I initiated a campaign called 'A tree in the name of the mother'.'
'Everyone loves their mother. In this spirit, we want to make tree planting a 'Mass Movement with a personal touch and global responsibility.' I urge you all to join in.' PM further said, 'Building a developed India by 2047 is our resolve. Our commitment ensures that no segment of society is left behind in the country’s development journey. This is also significant from an international cooperation standpoint. Amidst global uncertainties and tension, the countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt.'
'India has considered it its responsibility to voice the priorities and concerns of the Global South countries on the world stage. In these efforts, we have given high priority to Africa. We are proud that during India's G20 presidency, the African Union was made a permanent member. India has contributed and will continue to contribute to the economic and social development, stability, and security of all African countries.'
Prime Minister Meloni welcomes PM Modi with a 'Namaste'
When PM Modi arrived at the crucial G7 meeting as a special guest, he was warmly greeted by the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni. They greeted each other by joining hands. On stage, the two leaders talked at length and inquired about each other's well-being. The pictures and videos of both leaders also reflect the strengthening economic and strategic partnership between India and Italy, which has been continuously growing under PM Modi's leadership.
These visuals, with the leaders from two major countries, are a reminder of why India and Italy have grown closer in recent years, the implications it has for the world, and why Italy regards India's role on global platforms as so important.
India and Italy's trade relations
Talking about the trade relations between India and Italy, about 200,000 Indians live in Italy. India and Italy are trade partners within the European Union. The trade between the two countries is about INR 125 billion. At present, around 700 Italian companies operate in India, and more than 140 Indian companies are established in Italy.
Clearly, the trade relations between India and Italy are of great importance. Observing India's growing power on the world stage, Italy wants to proceed with India. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni admires PM Modi's leadership skills and administrative efficiency. Meloni had sent an invitation to PM Modi for the G7 summit even when the parliamentary elections were taking place in the country. Inviting PM Modi during the election time under Italy's presidency is a sign of strong diplomatic relations, which also impacts the ties between India and Italy.
The Russia-Ukraine war will overshadow the meeting
Before this meeting, Prime Minister Meloni's party, Brothers of Italy, won a landslide victory in the European Union elections. After the election victory, Meloni has emerged as one of the most popular leaders in the G7. By extending a special invitation to India for the G7 meeting, she has once again made the world aware of India's strength. The major powers of the world acknowledge India's growing clout. Now, the relations with the leaders of the world are based on India's policy of India First.
The issue of the Russia-Ukraine war will dominate this time's meeting. This war has shaken the economies of the major countries of the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has good relations with western countries as well as Russian President Putin. Therefore, India's role is imperative for countries like Italy and especially in the G7 meeting, so that a solution can be found which makes the event successful. If that happens, it is certain that Meloni's stature will rise across Europe.
The world is going through a difficult phase
Nations around the world are facing multiple challenges these days. Due to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the situation has become even more difficult. In such a context, the role of Narendra Modi, who has democratically won for the third time, becomes extremely significant. India may not be a G7 member, but it is the only country from Asia to have been invited, which says a lot in itself. On Friday, PM Modi held bilateral talks with the leaders of several G7 member countries and presented India's agenda for global development to the world.
The G7 summit in Italy is taking place at a time when the world is undergoing a challenging phase. From Gaza to Ukraine, wars are raging. Due to the ongoing conflict, the world appears divided into two factions. At present, some G7 countries face domestic challenges, and this year, elections are also slated to occur in America, Britain, and France. Therefore, the leading powers of the world are also looking for a strong partner globally. This is why India's stature at G7, a significant international platform, has grown.
PM Modi meets with world leaders
PM Modi's participation in the G7 summit holds significant importance at this time, and this is evident from his meetings with world leaders. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warmly embraces PM Modi and then, before sitting down for a conversation, folds his hands in greeting. The same warmth can be seen in the meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and PM Modi, where the two discuss the current war situation.
In a time of global challenges, PM Modi's meeting with Zelensky is particularly crucial because PM Modi is the leader who has opposed war unequivocally on every global stage, advocating for unity against it. During the bilateral meetings of the G7 summit, an important discussion was held between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. They discussed various issues including Make in India, defense, nuclear, space, education, and artificial intelligence. Both leaders stressed the need to enhance the strategic partnership between India and France as it is essential for a stable global order.
G7 countries' economies are shadowed by India's
India's invitation to the G7 is also special considering India is the world's largest democracy. Meanwhile, G7 is an organization of democratic countries with a significant role in the balance of world power. G7 countries account for a 40% share of the global GDP and a 30-35% share in world trade. Organizations such as the World Bank and IMF have a significant impact from G7 countries in terms of economic policies and aid programs.
The world's powerful countries recognize this, and it's unthinkable for a major world platform to succeed without India, especially since India's economy surpasses those of three G7 member countries - France, Italy, and Canada. Moreover, according to the IMF, India will continue to be one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
America and Russia both aim to keep India in their court
That's why, even though India isn't a G7 member, it repeatedly receives invitations to join the summit. A report from a Washington think tank even states that India has become a permanent guest country at the G7 in recent years. The growing respect for India is the result of both America and Russia wanting to keep India on their side, and they openly commend the Prime Snippet Minister of India.
The influence of UNSC has waned due to tense relations between some of the world's large countries, while the impact of G7 has grown, specifically because no major decisions can be made in the UNSC due to direct confrontations. In such times, the dominance of India at the G7 meeting is again evident, and expectations from the country have increased globally under the leadership of PM Modi.
