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Overview of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s 3-day visit to Argentina to take part in 2-day 13th G20 Summit

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On November 29, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a 3-day visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina for the commencement of the 2-day 13th G20 Summit.

Highlights:

  • It was the first G20 summit to be hosted in South America.
  • He also participate in the first-ever trilateral JAI meeting between Japan, America and India(JAI) and the 2nd Russia, India and China (RIC) trilateral Meeting, which is taking place after an interval of 12 years.
  • PM Narendra Modi received a football jersey with his name on its back from the FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

2-day 13th G-20 Summit:
On November 30, 2018, the two day 13th G-20 Summit commenced at Buenos Aires in Argentina.

2-day 13th G-20 Summiti. It was hosted by President of Argentina, Mr. Mauricio Macri.
ii. The theme of the 2018 edition of the Summit was: “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development”.
iii. It had 3 sub-themes for the summit. They were:

  • The theme for the first Session was ‘Putting People First’ that focused on the global economy, on the economic outlook or the future of work.
  • The second session talks of Building Consensus, a topic of importance at this time certainly, and this will deal with international trade, finance, taxation, sustainable development and climate change and
  • The third session is called ‘Embracing Opportunities’ and these are related to energy, infrastructure, sustainable food security.

iv. PM Modi addressed the first session on ‘Putting People First’ where he highlighted on the following points:

  • Empowerment of Women,
  • Digital Revolution,
  • Oil Volatility,
  • Reformed Multilateralism,
  • International Solar Alliance and its role and urged the member nations to join in,
  • Disaster resilient infrastructure.
  • Combating terror financing and money laundering.

v. In the 2nd session of the summit, PM Modi presented a 9-point programme reflecting stringent actions against fugitive economic offenders. They are as follows:

  • Strong and active cooperation across G-20 countries to deal comprehensively and efficiently with the menace fugitive economic offenders.
  • Cooperation in the legal processes such as effective freezing of the proceeds of crime; early return of the offenders and efficient repatriation of the proceeds of crime should be enhanced and streamlined.
  • Joint effort by G-20 countries to form a mechanism that denies entry and safe havens to all fugitive economic offenders.
  • Principles of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNOTC), especially related to “International Cooperation” should be fully and effectively implemented.
  • FATF should be called upon to assign priority and focus to establishing international co-operation that leads to timely and comprehensive exchange of information between the competent authorities and FIUs.
  • FATF should be tasked to formulate a standard definition of fugitive economic offenders.
  • FATF should also develop a set of commonly agreed and standardized procedures related to identification, extradition and judicial proceedings for dealing with fugitive economic offenders to provide guidance and assistance to G-20 countries, subject to their domestic law.
  • Common platform should be set up for sharing experiences and best practices including successful cases of extradition, gaps in existing systems of extradition and legal assistance, etc.
  • G-20 Forum should consider initiating work on locating properties of economic offenders who have a tax debt in the country of their residence for its recovery.

vi. Additionally, as stated by India’s G20 Sherpa Shaktikanta Das, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged G-20 countries to implement 11-point agenda of Hamburg declaration which demands firm action against terrorism.

Other News:

  • The 14th edition of the G20 summit will be held in Japan while Saudi Arabia will host the 15th edition.
  • India upon attaining 75 years of Independence on 2022 will host the G-20 Summit which was previously scheduled to be hosted by Italy.
  • The 2017 edition of G-20 Summit was held in Hamburg, Germany.

About G-20:
♦ The Group of Twenty (G20) is a leading forum of the world’s major economies that seeks to develop global policies to address challenges.
♦ The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the European Union. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

1st ‘JAI’ trilateral Meeting held on the sidelines of G20, align over Indo-Pacific:
On November 30, 2018, India, Japan and the US held a trilateral meeting for the first time on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Argentina. Thus the acronym ‘JAI’ means: ‘Japan, America and India’.

  • The 3 nations agreed on the importance of the free and open Indo-Pacific vision for global stability and prosperity, and pledged to deepen trilateral cooperation.
  • The meeting was focused on the betterment of the Indo-Pacific region with India articulating a five action points that would serve the common interest of promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Based on that, the 3 nations agreed to work together in areas such as connectivity, sustainable development, disaster relief, maritime security and unfettered mobility.
  • The leaders also agreed on the central role of ASEAN and they also agreed to work on maritime and connectivity issues.

Background:
The meeting happened at a time when China is engaged in the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and with Japan in the East China Sea.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which includes vital sea lanes through which about $ 3 trillion in global trade passes each year.

2nd RIC (Russia, India and China) Trilateral Meeting:
On November 30, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a trilateral meeting, the second among the three countries after a gap of 12 years, on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
i. The following took place in the meeting:

  • Agreed to hold regular consultations to jointly promote international and regional peace and stability,
  • To strengthen cooperation through BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the East Asia Summit (EAS) mechanisms,
  • To address global challenges such as terrorism and climate change, and to encourage peaceful resolution of all differences.

Addressing the BRICS Leaders Informal Meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit
On November 30, 2018, PM Modi along with the heads of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, held the annual Informal BRICS Leaders’ Meeting on the margins of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
i. It was organised by: President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.
ii. On the Summit the following was agreed upon by the member states:

  • Exchanged views on international political, security and global economic-financial issues and sustainable development,
  • Supported for the rules-based multilateral trading system, as embodied in the WTO, for international trade,
  • Urged the formation of the Appellate Body selection process for effective functioning of the WTO dispute settlement system,
  • Supported resource mobilization and conclusion of the IMF’s 15th General Review of Quotas for sustainable and disaster resilient infrastructure and protecting the voices of the least developed counties, by the 2019 Spring Meetings and no later than the 2019 Annual Meetings.
  • Agreed on conducting a successful and ambitious first replenishment process of the Green Climate Fund.

iii. PM Modi on his address did the following:

  • Congratulated President Ramaphosa on the success of BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in July and for hosting this meeting.
  • Called on the member nations to collaborate in political exchanges and counter-terrorism activities,
  • Urged all countries for the implementation of FATF standards,
  • Supported Brazil and its leadership for the forthcoming BRICS Chairmanship.

iv.The 11th BRICS Summit to be hosted by Brazil in 2019.
BRICS:
♦  Headquarters: Shanghai, China.

US, Mexico And Canada inked USMCA replacing 24-year old NAFTA in Argentina
On November 30, 2018, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3 nations of USMexico and Canada signed the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
i.It will replace the 24-year old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
ii.The Agreement was signed by:
US President Mr. Donald Trump,
President of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau,
President of Mexico, Mr. Enrique Pena Nieto.

Meeting with Other Dignitaries:

The meetings during Argentina Visit at a glimpse:

CountryOfficialTopic
Saudi ArabiaCrown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman Al SaudInvestment in various sectors in 2-3 years
UNSecretary-General Antonio GuterresClimate change
BRICS Leaders’ SummitLeaders of BRICSDiscussion on topics related to WTO and FATF
ChinaPresident of China, Mr. Xi JinpingImport and Export, Pharma sector
1st JAIShinzo Abe, President of Japan; Donal Trump, President of America and Narendra Modi, PM of India1st Trilateral cooperation for free, open stability in the Indo-Pacific region and connectivity and trade.
G20Leaders of G-209-point program released, women empowerment, oil volatility, terror financing etc.
ChilePresident of Chile, Mr. Sebastian PineraCooperation in agriculture, health, people to people ties, space etc.
2nd RIC (After 12 years)Xi Jinping, President of China; Vladmir Putin, President of Russia and Narendra Modi, PM of IndiaInternational peace and stability
ArgentinaPresident of Argentina, Mr. Mauricio Macri.Cooperation in various sectors; Indian companies to participate in Lithium mining in Argentina
EU and ECPresident of European Commission Jean Claude Juncker and President of European Union Donald Tusk.Cooperation to counter terrorism in all forms
GermanyGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel.Multiculturalism and counter terrorism
NetherlandsPresident of Netherlands Mark Rutte.Cooperation in economic and cultural ties
South AfricaPresident of South Africa, Mr. Cyril RamaphosaCooperation in business and people-to-people ties
SpainPrime Minister of Spain, Mr. Pedro SanchezCooperation in Urban Development and cultural ties
JamaicaPresident of Jamaica, Mr. Andrew HolnessCollaboration in energy and climate change
FrancePresident of France, Mr. Emmanuel MacronCooperation in trade and people-to-people ties, counter terrorism.