New Delhi: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G-7) began three days of talks on Sunday in Germany’s Bavarian Alps.
One of the first announcements was a 600-billion-dollar infrastructure initiative to help developing countries tackle climate change. The initiative is seen as the West’s response to China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
US President Joe Biden said, this is not aid or charity but an investment that will deliver returns for everyone. China has been accused of trapping low-income countries into unaffordable debts to be part of its trillion-dollar BRI push. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said G-7 is offering sustainable, quality infrastructure and will be listening closely to the recipient countries.
PM Modi addresses Indian diaspora:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted in the meantime that India is witnessing a tech and digital revolution. He said, from the largest vaccination drive to public procurement to use of drones in agriculture, India is now moving towards an innovation-led future.
Addressing the Indian Diaspora at Munich in Germany, the Prime Minister said, India has shown that democracy “can deliver and has delivered”. Mr Modi said, today, “we can proudly say that India is the mother of democracy”.
The Prime Minister also met President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez on the sidelines of G-7 Summit. This was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders. They reviewed progress in implementing the bilateral Strategic Partnership established in 2019.
