After the pandemic on an invitation by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the first session of the G20 Rome Summit on Saturday, where he discussed the global economy and health along with a host of other global world leaders. Taking to his official handle on Twitter, PM Modi said that the proceedings at the G20 summit were “extensive and productive”.
On the sidelines, Modi also visited the Vatican City not only to “hug” Pope Francis but also to invite him to India. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on Saturday that Pope Francis has accepted his invitation to visit India. “In his own words, he said: ‘You (PM Modi) have given me the greatest gift. I am looking forward to visiting India’,” said Shringla to media. He added that the Prime Minister also invited French President Emmanuel Macron to visit India as well.
On Saturday, PM Modi had held meetings with Macron and Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome. He has also met US President Joe Biden in the G20 venue. The Prime Minister is being accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
In fact, he began day three of this visit to Italy which was full of optics by visiting the famed Trevi Fountain in Rome. One of the most recognisable monuments and tourist sites, the historical Trevi Fountain has drawn many movie makers to it who have popularised the Baroque art-styled monument as the epitome of a place for romance. One of the most eye-catching movie scenes shot at the fountain shows Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita wading through it in an evening dress. It is believed that if you throw a coin over your head in the fountain by not facing the fountain one will be sure to return to Rome, so did Modi. It is a diplomatic message to say that he will revisit Rome.
After the conclusion of G20 Summit in Rome PM Modi will next be travelling to Glasgow in the United Kingdom to attend the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which began on October 31, according to the official schedule. He will be in United Kingdom on November 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, Prince Charles has also urged world leaders on Sunday to pay attention to the “despairing voices” of young people who will have to go through the consequences of climate change as he asserted that COP26 was the most important and added that “it is literally the last chance saloon” to save the Earth. The heir to the British throne emphasised that the world leaders have an “overwhelming responsibility to generations yet unborn”.
Among the topics highlighted by PM Modi at the G20 summit are India’s contributions in the global fight against Covid-19, the vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’, furthering innovation in healthcare, the need for resilient global supply chains, and leveraging technology for human empowerment.
In fact in September this year, Prime Minister Modi while launching 35 crop varieties with “special traits like climate resilience and higher nutrient content”, had called upon the academicians, agricultural scientists and institutions to start a campaign to impart knowledge to farmers about “protection” from climate change. It is a matter of concern for all and especially when the coming generations are endangered by the act of the present generation.
With the ever-growing global population, usage of plastics and wasting of natural resources and to control this is a major challenge for all the world leaders for ages. In fact, it is time to use technology, efficiently manage the resources and all these matters require global commitment considering that planet Earth as one home for global citizens.
It is time now that all the countries will have to show responsibility and work in cohesion to ensure that the concept of five ‘Rs’, which are reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink and respect. It is the only ‘mantra’ to tackle the menace of climate change, which in coming years could be disastrous for our Mother Earth.
