India's Historic G20 Hosting: Anticipating Outcomes and Influence as the First South Asian Nation to do so

G20 New Delhi Summit: In just a matter of a few days, New Delhi will be hosting the G20 Summit, With this India will become the first South Asian country to do so. India was earlier scheduled to host more than 200 G20-related events while holding the group's leadership from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. The landmark G20 Leaders' Summit will take place in New Delhi on September 9 and 10, 2023. The historic summit will see world leaders from around 40 countries of the world attending the event. 

G20 Summit composition

Going by the figures, G20 is made up of 19 countries that together contribute to 75% of global trade and almost 85% of the world's GDP. The New Delhi Summit will be chaired by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The list of 19 countries is as follows"
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Union, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

G20 New Delhi agendas

• Funding for the climate, improvement of livelihoods, and sustainable ecological advancement
• Economic expansion
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Technology Integration & Creation of Digital Public Framework
• Restructuring Multilateral Organisations for the Global Environment 
• Women's Empowerment in Development Steering

What to expect new:  According to sources, the African Union could be granted voting rights and membership in the G20. Although there is no confirmation regarding the same, the G20 member states support this proposition. This topic is one of the top concerns for the upcoming G20 summit in Delhi.

Who can attend:  The Summit is poised to serve as a significant platform for global voices, boasting an impressive list of participants comprising US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. However, there are reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin might not attend the summit. 

China likely to skip G20 Summit

President Xi's decision to skip the G20 Summit in India, according to Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives (ASPI), could be interpreted as a sign that China is currently hesitant to give India the spotlight. In a statement to Indian Express, she said “Looking ahead, it is evident that Sino-India relations are navigating complex terrain. The border issues are deeply intertwined with historical disputes, national pride, and strategic interests. As both nations vie for influence on the global stage, their interactions will be influenced by not only regional dynamics but also the overarching framework of great power competition between China and the United States,”