Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived back in New Delhi on Monday morning following his significant participation in the G20 Summit held in South Africa. The two-day official visit from November 22-23 saw the Indian leader actively engage in multiple summit sessions and conduct crucial bilateral meetings with global counterparts.
G20 Declaration Achieves Consensus Despite Challenges
In a notable diplomatic achievement, G20 leaders unanimously approved the summit declaration despite the United States choosing to boycott the proceedings. This consensus signals a renewed commitment among participating nations toward shared development objectives, climate action goals, and essential reforms in an increasingly multipolar world order.
The attending nations endorsed a comprehensive 122-point document that primarily focuses on enhancing global equity, restructuring multilateral institutions, and accelerating sustainable development initiatives worldwide.
Strengthening India-Italy Strategic Partnership
Among the highlight bilateral engagements was Prime Minister Modi's meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The two leaders adopted the India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism, reinforcing their mutual determination to combat terrorist activities through financial tracking mechanisms.
According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who shared details on social media platform X, the discussions covered multiple areas of potential cooperation including trade, investment, technology, artificial intelligence, defence and security, space research, innovation, and cultural exchanges.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the Joint Strategic Action Plan spanning 2025-29. Prime Minister Meloni notably extended her strong support for the AI Summit that India is scheduled to host in 2026.
India's Vision for Human-Centric Technology
During the third session of the G20 Summit, which concentrated on ensuring equitable and just futures for all global citizens, Prime Minister Modi articulated India's distinctive approach to emerging technologies. The discussions prominently featured critical sectors such as critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
PM Modi emphasized India's firm belief in promoting technology that remains human-centric, globally accessible, and open source rather than being driven exclusively by financial considerations or creating exclusive ecosystems.
He detailed India's comprehensive approach to artificial intelligence, built upon three fundamental pillars: equitable access, population-scale skill development, and responsible deployment. The country's AI Mission specifically aims to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits reach every district and accommodate diverse linguistic communities across the nation.
The Prime Minister called for establishing a global compact to prevent AI misuse, particularly addressing concerns around deepfakes, criminal activities, and terrorist applications of the technology.
Looking Ahead: India's Leadership in Global AI Governance
Looking toward future initiatives, Prime Minister Modi announced India's preparations to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026 under the guiding principle of 'Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya' - translating to welfare and happiness for all.
He stressed the necessity of shifting focus from merely creating 'jobs for today' to systematically building 'capabilities for tomorrow.' The Indian leader expressed optimism that the G20 forum would develop a global framework for talent mobility in the coming years, ultimately boosting innovation ecosystems and benefiting youth populations worldwide.
The successful diplomatic mission reinforces India's growing influence in shaping global conversations around technology governance, climate action, and multilateral cooperation while strengthening strategic bilateral relationships with key international partners.
