Published 22:39 IST, August 25th 2019
PM Modi at G7 Summit: Meets UK PM Boris Johnson and UNSG Guterres
After PM Narendra Modi was invited to attend the G7 Summit at France by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister arrived at Biarritz on Sunday
- India News
- 4 min read
After PM Narendra Modi was invited to attend the G7 Summit at France by host and French President Emmanuel Macron, the Prime Minister arrived at Biarritz on Sunday as a Special Biarritz Partner, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated that PM Modi would be participating in two sessions on Climate, Biodiversity, Oceans and Digital Transformation. Apart from these, he is also set to hold a number of bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines, according to MEA. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the invitation was a "reflection of the personal chemistry" between the two leaders.
PM Modi's G7 Summit engagements:
Detailing PM Modi's engagements in Biarritz, the MEA said that the Prime Minister has met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 6:05 PM (Paris Time). As shared by the MEA, the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties in trade & investment, defence and security, and education sectors. PM Modi was invited to the Summit despite not being a member of the international grouping. He was personally received by President Macron at Biarritz.
Apart from Johnson, PM Modi also met with the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres at 6:30 PM (Paris Time). As shared by the PMO's Twitter handle, PM Modi had a bilateral meeting with Guterres and held talks on a wide range of issues. PM Modi set off to Biarritz from Bahrain after completing his three-nation tour. UAE and France were the other countries in PM Modi's tour.
G7 Summit 2019
The host of the G7 Summit, President of France, Macron has narrowed down the theme of the Summit to 'fighting inequality' amid other issues looming across the globe including- the US-China trade war, Tehran-Washington escalating tensions and even the fire in the Amazon rainforest. Permanent world leaders of G7 France President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump, Canada PM Justin Trudeau, British PM Boris Johnson, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japan PM Shinzō Abe, and Italy PM Giuseppe Conte are currently in attendance at the annual meet. They are scheduled to discuss vast issues ranging from economy, social inequalities and gender. Along with India, countries from the length and breadth of the globe including Australian, Egypt, Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, Spain, and South Africa are among the others invited for the Summit in Biarritz.
Kashmir in G7 Summit
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, PM Modi and US President Donald Trump are likely to bring up the situation in the Kashmir valley, human rights, trade and other issues of mutual concern. Donald Trump had urged premier of Pakistan, Imran Khan to "moderate rhetoric" with neighbour India, over the delicate situation in Kashmir to ease strains. Trump's conversation with Khan, was followed by a 30- minute long conversation with PM Modi on Monday over the conflicted issue of Kashmir in consequence to the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent communication blackout in the valley for over two weeks. Pakistan has been fearmongering over the issue pleading for global interference since August 5 when the Indian parliament abrogated Article 370.
Updated 23:08 IST, August 25th 2019