G20 summit in india: World leaders arrive for start of talks as Sunak vows to ‘put pressure’ on Russia – live
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he arrives at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Center for the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India
(via REUTERS)
Rishi Sunak and other world leaders arrive at the venue in New Delhi this morning for the start of the G20 summit, where they will be welcomed by host Narendra Modi.
The Indian Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with 15 different countries, including the United Kingdom, on the sidelines of the summit, while the main agenda items of the group meetings include Ukraine, the climate crisis, economic growth for developing countries and the potential admission of the African Union as a permanent member of the blocks.
After arriving in India yesterday, Mr Sunak said he would use the two-day summit to highlight the “devastating impact” that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are having on the cost of living in the UK and food security worldwide.
Vladimir Putin will miss this weekend’s summit but will be represented by his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, and Mr Sunak said he would “put pressure on Russia to stop attacking civilian infrastructure in Ukraine”.
US President Joe Biden comes to the G20 summit
Joe Biden, who landed in Delhi late last night, beamed as he was greeted by Modi on the red carpet of the summit.
Mr Modi appeared to show him the background and showed the chakra (a wheel) of the Konark Sun Temple.
Narendra Modi shakes hands with US President Joe Biden
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Shweta SharmaSeptember 9, 2023 06:14
Delhi stands still as all eyes turn to the G20
The streets of the normally bustling national capital appeared deserted on Saturday as top leaders of the G20 grouping arrived at the Bharat Mandapam venue to attend the summit.
Tens of thousands of security forces have taken over the city’s streets, which were freshly washed by a sudden downpour this morning.
In the city of over 30 million inhabitants, markets were closed, schools closed and traffic restricted.
Stray dogs sit on a deserted street on the day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9
(REUTERS)
And offices were ordered to work remotely as nearly 130,000 police and paramilitary security forces were deployed to ensure the safety of arriving guests – Saturday would normally be a working day for most here.
Shweta SharmaSeptember 9, 2023 06:10
A huge media center is abuzz with excitement as the G20 summit begins
The first day of the G20 summit in Delhi began this morning with an unexpected downpour, bringing a welcome drop in temperature for world leaders – still very warm in northern India in early September.
More than 3,000 journalists arrived very early in the morning at the media center at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, specially built for this summit and brought to life in time for this historic occasion for India.
At the media convention center, the air was filled with excitement as journalists began preparing for live coverage of the event.
The sprawling complex, like the rest of Delhi in recent days, is decorated with towering images of host Narendra Modi beaming from ear to ear, as well as other life-size posters and billboards proudly displaying the themes of India’s G20 presidency to announce.
Rishi Sunak’s arrival at the summit will be watched from one of the giant screens in the venue’s huge media center
(Shweta Sharma)
The G20 logo of a globe sitting on a lotus flower is splashed in bright colors on the walls of the media center.
Given the size of the event, the media center is separate from the venue where world leaders gather, so the epicenter of attention is a series of giant screens that dominate the two-story hall. These screens offer a view of the Bharat Mandapam itself, where leaders arrive to deliberate on critical global issues.
Shweta SharmaSeptember 9, 2023 5:48 am
G20 schedule for day one: “One Earth, One Family”
The first session of the G20 summit, titled ‘One Earth’, will begin shortly at 10:30 a.m. IST (6 a.m. BST).
The discussion will focus on accelerating climate action through increased mitigation and solidifying the global net-zero emissions agenda.
Following the lunch break, another session on “One Family” will begin at 3:00 pm IST.
The two sessions are based on the theme of India’s G20 Presidency: “One Earth – One Family – One Future”, which is taken from a Hindu Sanskrit scripture.
The first day of the summit will end at 7pm with a special dinner hosted by India’s President Droupadi Murmu.
Shweta SharmaSeptember 9, 2023 5:40 am
Modi greets world leaders at the start of the G20 summit
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the G20 Summit from the Bharat Mandapam venue here in New Delhi.
The first day of the summit will begin with the arrival of world leaders at the venue from 9:30 am IST.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes heads of state and government from the G20 countries and invited guests.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (r.) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Bharat Mandapam
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Shweta SharmaSeptember 9, 2023 05:32
