Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia from May 19 to 24, 2023 to attend multilateral summits, including the Group of Seven (G7).
Visit to Japan:
PM visited Hiroshima (Japan) from May 19 to 21, 2023 at the invitation of Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan.
Participation in G7 Summit:
The 49th G7 summit was held from 19 to 21 May 2023 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
i.As India has been invited as a guest country for the G7 summit, PM Narendra Modi participated in the annual summit of the G7 advanced economies in Hiroshima under the Japanese Presidency on May 20 2023. He talked about challenges facing the globe, including food, fertiliser and energy security.
ii.The broad terms of the G7 Summit preferences include nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and security, regional issues, climate and energy, food and health and development. Other priorities include digitisation and science and technology.
iii.Other Countries: Japan has also invited Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and some international organisations including the UN(United Nations) for the annual G7 summit 2023.
Initiatives taken in G7 Summit :-
i.Together with the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, the group countries reaffirm the importance of disarmament and non-proliferation efforts to create a more stable and safer world.
ii.Group countries reaffirm the shared commitment to the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and to working together and aiming to mobilize up to $600 billion by 2027.
iii.Initiatives that are intended to support clean energy transition in countries around the world, such as Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA),2050 Pathways Platform, Net Zero World (NZW), and the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge and discussions included commitment to the Paris agreement, keeping a limit of 1.5°C global temperature rise within
- Goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 with highlighting the increased urgency to reduce global GHG emissions by around 43 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035.
iv.Initiative including such domestic policies that are designed to achieve 100 percent or the overwhelming penetration of sales of light duty vehicles (LDVs) as zero emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2035 and beyond; to achieve 100 percent electrified vehicles in new passenger car sales by 2035.
V.The summit also highlighted the commitments to the developed country Parties’ goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion annually in climate finance by 2020 through to 2025 in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation.
About G7:
- Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States; additionally, the European Union.
- The G7 is not based on a treaty and has no permanent secretariat or office. It is organized through a presidency that rotates annually among the member states, with the presiding state setting the group’s priorities and hosting and organizing its summit;
- Japan currently holds the presidency of G7 for 2023. Italy will take over the presidency from Japan in 2024.
Bilateral Talk with World Leaders:
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, PM Modi held bilateral talks with several world leaders.
i.France: PM Modi had a meeting with President of France Emmanuel Macron and reviewed both nation’s progress in Strategic Partnership in various areas, trade, economic spheres, civil aviation, renewables, co-production and manufacturing in defence sector, as well as civil nuclear cooperation.
- Both leaders have exchanged views on regional developments and global challenges.
ii.Urkrain: While at the meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukrain, PM Modi conveyed India’s support for dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred means to find a way forward for Ukraine. He also assured that India would continue extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine.
iii.Japan: Prime Minister also had a meeting with of PM of Japan Fumio Kishida and both discussed ways to enhance India-Japan friendship across different sectors including trade, economy and culture, ways to synergise efforts of their respective G7 and G20 Presidencies.
iv.South Korea: While meeting the President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, PM Modi discussed ways to further boost India-South Korea friendship in key developmental sectors and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas of trade and investment, high technology, IT hardware manufacturing, defense, semiconductor, and culture.
v.Vietnam: PM Modi and Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh discussed opportunities in the fields of defence, building resilient supply chains, energy, science and technology, human resource development, culture and people-to-people ties.
vi.PM Modi along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and reviewed and assessed the progress in bilateral relations he also met President of United States of America (USA) Joe Biden.
Quad summit 2023:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the third in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on 20 May 2023, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and President Joseph Biden of the United States of America.
- This summit was hosted by Australian Prime Minister Albanese in Japan.
- The Quad summit, initially set to happen in Sydney, Australia on May 24, had to be called off. The cancellation followed the US President’s announcement of postponing his visit due to ongoing debt ceiling negotiations in Washington.
ii.The Quad leaders from the US, India, Australia and Japan discussed measures to deepen their cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, high-quality infrastructure, global health, climate change, maritime domain awareness, and other issues that matter to the people of the Indo-Pacific.
- About Quad – The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, is a strategic security dialogue between the four countries Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
-Unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi
i.PM Modi unveiled a 42-inch tall bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima, Japan on 20 May 2023.
ii.The Mahatma Gandhi bust has been gifted by the Government of India to the city of Hiroshima as a symbol of friendship and goodwill between India and Japan.
iii.The bust has been sculpted by Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Ram Vanji Sutar. The location of the bust location adjacent to the Motoyasu River, which is close to the iconic A-Bomb Dome has been chosen as a mark of solidarity for peace and non-violence.
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome/A-Bomb Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. It is the iconic ruin of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and it has become a symbol of both the horror of nuclear war and the hope for peace.
- In December 1996 the A-Bomb Dome was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List based on the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Dignitaries present during the unveiling ceremony include H.E Mr. Nakatani Gen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament; Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City; Mr. Tatsunori Motani, Speaker of the Hiroshima City Assembly; Members of Parliament from Hiroshima and senior government officials; members of the Indian community; and followers of Mahatma Gandhi in Japan.
Visit to Papua New Guinea:
Next to his visit to Japan, PM Modi travelled to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was his first visit, and it also marks the first-ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister, to Papua New Guinea.
Release of ‘Thirukkural’ in Tok Pisin language:
On May 22, 2023, PM Narendra Modi along with PM of Papua New Guinea James Marape released translation of the Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ in the Tok Pisin language to bring the Indian thought and culture closer to the people of this southwestern Pacific nation.
- Tok Pisin is the official language of Papua New Guinea. The translation was Co-authored by Subha Sasindran and Governor Sasindran Muthuvel of West New Britain Province
PM Modi Conferred with Highest Civilian Award in Fiji
On May 22, 2023, in a special ceremony at the Government House, Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, conferred Prime Minister Modi with the “Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL)“, the highest civilian award in Fiji, in recognition of his global leadership.
The recipients of the award are titled “Chief”. The medallion was presented to PM Modi in recognition of his global leadership, a rare honour for a non-Fijian.
Note – The Companion is conferred upon citizens, or other foreigners by an Honorary Award, in recognition of eminent achievement or the highest degree of meritorious service to Fiji or humanity. Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean
PM Jointly Hosted FIPIC III Summit 2023
PM Modi jointly hosted the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) with James Marape on May 22, 2023. FIPIC had been launched during PM Modi’s visit to Fiji in 2014.
- The summit intends to strengthen India’s engagement with Pacific Island countries and promotes cooperation in various sectors.
- The third FIPIC summit was to be held in early 2020 but was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- PM Modi also have bilateral interactions with Papua New Guinea Governor General Sir Bob Dadae, James Marape and some of the other PIC Leaders participating in the Summit.
India’s Initiatives
- PM Modi unveiled a comprehensive 12-step initiative aimed at advancing India’s collaborations with the countries in the Pacific region including FIPIC SME Development Project, Solar project for Government buildings, Provide desalination units for drinking water, Supply sea ambulances, Set up dialysis units, Set up of 24×7 emergency helpline, Set up of Jan Aushadi Kendras, Set up Yoga centres.
- Establishment of a super-specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji .The Indian government will bear the full cost of this mega greenfield project.
- In 2022, an initiative called the Jaipur Foot Camp was held in Fiji, offering free prosthetic limbs to more than 600 individuals. The Prime Minister announced plans to establish a similar camp in Papua New Guinea this year, and starting from 2024, the intention is to organize two such camps every year in the Pacific island nations.
FIPIC includes 14 island countries –
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – that are located in the Pacific Ocean, to the northeast of Australia.
- India’s involvement with these 14 nations aligns with its Act East Policy, and the country has primarily fostered its relationships with them through developmental aid as part of South-South Cooperation.
Visit to Australia:
Prime Minister Modi made his official to Australia from May 22 to 24 ,2023 and his visit to Australia builds on the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in March 2023.
Note – India set to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 ,the world’s premier forum for economic cooperation in September 2023 in New Delhi. The India’s G20 Presidency would guide the work of the G20 under the theme of – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth · One Family · One Future”.
Bilateral Meeting with Australian PM:
PM Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting with the Australian PM Anthony Albanese. While at the meeting he raised India’s concerns over incidents of attacks on temples and activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Australia.
- They also had a constructive discussion on strengthening strategic cooperation in mining and critical minerals.
- Agreements were signed between India and Australia in the field of migration and mobility partnership and on the Green Hydrogen task force and the Memorandum of Understandings were also exchanged
- PM Modi also announced the establishment of a new Australian Consulate General in Bengaluru (Karnataka) which will help connect Australian businesses to India’s digital and innovation ecosystem.
- PM Modi shared the stage with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park,Australia.
Note – PM Modi invited Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and all Australian cricket fans to India for the Cricket World Cup in 2023.
Laid Foundation Stone for ‘Little India’ gateway
On May 23, 2023, PM Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese jointly laid the foundation stone of the ‘Little India’ gateway to be built in Harris Park in Western Sydney as a symbol of the friendship between the two nations and to recognise the diaspora’s immense contribution.
- Harris Park is a hub in Western Sydney where the Indian community celebrates festivals and events such as Diwali and Australia Day.
A street in Western Sydney, Australia was officially renamed as “Little India” by PM Narendra Modi.
Note – The first proposal for officially naming the area ‘Little India’ was made in 2015.
Promotion of tribal art and culture via Gifting:
During his visit to the three nations, PM Modi Gifted Tribal artworks to leaders of different countries:
i.Dokra art was given to the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Cook Islands and Tonga.
- Dokra art is the dancing girl artefact found in Mohenjo-Daro and Harappan excavations.
- The common themes of Dokra art revolve around figurines of Hindu gods, goddesses and different animals.
ii.PM Modi gifted Gond paintings, one of the most admired tribal art form, for Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
- These paintings are created by dots and lines, with locally available natural colours and materials like charcoal, coloured soil, plant sap, leaves, cow dung and lime stone powder.
iii.A Pithora was gifted to Niue, a Pacific island country leader. It is a ritualistic tribal folk art by the Rathwa artisans from Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat and is considered a living testament of an ever-changing ethos exemplifying the highly enriched folk and tribal art culture of Gujarat.
About Australia:
Capital – Canberra
Currency – Australian dollar (AUD)
Prime Minister – Anthony Albanese
