NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan today. He reached Hiroshima last evening to a resounding welcome from the Indian diaspora. On the sidelines of the G7 Summit today, Prime Minister Modi met Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida in Hiroshima. Both the leaders discussed ways to enhance India-Japan friendship across different sectors including trade, economy and culture.
According to the External Affairs Ministry, Mr. Modi and Mr. Kishida discussed ways to synergise the efforts of respective G-7 and G-20 Presidencies, and the need to highlight the voice of the Global South. They also exchanged views on contemporary regional developments and deepening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Both the leaders also discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral special strategic and global partnership.
Discussions were also held on education, skill development, tourism, high technology and digital public infrastructure. Mr. Modi will also hold a series of bilateral discussions with the leaders of South Korea, Vietnam, France, and Ukraine. As a symbol of friendship and goodwill, the Prime Minister also unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima. After unveiling the bust, Mr. Modi said, even today, the world gets frightened when they listen to the word Hiroshima. He said, the world is suffering from climate change and terrorism today.
The External Affairs Ministry said, Mahatma Gandhi’s bust, a gift from India to the city of Hiroshima, is a befitting tribute to a city that symbolises humanity’s yearning for peace. A QUAD Leaders Meeting is also scheduled for later in the day. The G7 Summit has chosen several key priorities for the current Presidency. 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.
There are other priorities also such as digitisation and science and technology which will be highlighted during several sessions at the Summit. Japan has also invited Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and some international organisations including the UN. Akashvani correspondent reports that India has attended nine G7 Summit Outreach sessions till date. India’s regular participation at the G7 Summits clearly points to increasing recognition that India should be a part of any serious effort to resolve global challenges, including those of peace, security, development and environment preservation.