Stormy session likely of G20 foreign ministers meet in India |
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov was among the first to arrive as he landed in India on February 28 for the G20 foreign ministers` meeting to be held on March 2. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to arrive on March 1. Both Lavrov and Blinken are expected to have respective bilateral meetings with Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on March 1. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on February 28 confirmed his participation in the G20 meeting on March 2. Japan`s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who called for global efforts at the United Nations last week to force Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, may not travel to India because of a “scheduling conflict" with an impending Parliament session. South Korea, another important East Asian partner, will also be represented by a junior minister as foreign minister Park Jin is busy with "domestic affairs``. While announcing Qin`s visit, the Chinese foreign ministry said China was ready to work with all parties to ensure the G20 foreign ministers` meeting sends a positive signal on "multilateralism, food and energy security and development cooperation". The visit is significant as it will also be Qin`s first visit to India as foreign minister and only the second high-level visit from China – after his predecessor Wang Yi`s visit in 2022. Qin is likely to have a bilateral meeting with Indian foreign minister Jaishankar. The G20 foreign ministers` meeting will officially begin on March 1 with a reception and conversation over dinner that will be hosted by Dr. Jaishankar. While a joint statement, like with the finance ministers` meeting, is unlikely, India is hoping the outcome reflects the Bali consensus with its emphasis on Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s remark that this isn`t the era of war.
|
|
|
|
|
